The 61-year-old man who died after crashing his float plane on Fairbank Lake Sept. 21 is described in his obituary as “an eternal optimist with a ceaselessly positive outlook on all things.”
Brian Hickey's family also extended “a heartfelt thank you to all who helped at Fairbank Lake” in his obituary.
Hickey is survived by his “cherished wife and co-adventurer” Cathy (Rintala) and daughters Jodi (Anthony Lachance) and Lindsay (partner Max Wert). He was the proud grandfather of Ella.
He's also survived by his father Joseph and wife D’Ann (mother Audrey predeceased), sisters Laurie (Norm Robertson) and Mary-Ellen (Gordon Procher), and sister-in-law Rennie (brother Dan predeceased).
Born in Sudbury, Hickey grew up in Lively. After high school, he moved to southern Ontario and graduated from Radio College in Toronto, which led to a “highly successful 38-year career” in IT management with the Bank of Montreal.
Hickey and his wife settled in Leaskdale, raised their family and have remained there for the last 35 years. Although passionate and committed to his work, Hickey was truly not defined by it, his obituary states.
He was an outdoorsman and adventurer who loved snowmobiling in winter, and exploring the North in his float plane as soon as the ice was off the lakes.
“While Brian was extremely proud of the passion and accomplishments of his daughters Jodi and Lindsay with horses, Brian’s own passion was for horsepower,” the obituary said.
“From the youngest age he loved anything with a motor, and spent long hours tinkering and fixing up motors of all sizes and descriptions.
“Brian was an excellent athlete, excelling at alpine skiing, badminton, and more recently curling and golfing. Brian and his family enjoyed many happy times at their cottage in Haliburton before he sold it and took part in the building of a new camp at Lake Agnew where he worked and played tirelessly for the past many summers.”
The obituary added that since his retirement four years ago, Hickey enjoyed volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Uxbridge and at the curling club.
“He will be missed terribly by all who knew him. A full life well led, too soon ended,” the obituary said.
A visitation takes place at Lougheed Funeral Home on Regent Street from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sept. 30.
A funeral mass takes place at St. Pius X Church in Lively on Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. A celebration of Hickey's life will be held at the Uxbridge Curling Club on Oct. 15 from 1 to 5 p.m.
For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to Meals on Wheels programs in Sudbury or Uxbridge (phone 905-852-7445).
