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Daniel Bickey Obituary

Bickey, Daniel
Daniel Bickey, 68, of Beckley, West Virginia died July 1st, 2014, surrounded by his wife, children, eldest granddaughter, and only surviving brother, at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, after a long struggle with pulmonary hypertension. He was born February 8, 1946, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the fourth son of Daniel and Mary Cashavelly Bickey. He graduated from Bassick High School in 1965, where he was a letterman in baseball and football, from Beckley College in 1968, from Concord College in 1972, and he received a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Charleston in 1997.
Bickey married the former Cynthia Morrison in 1967 and she survives him, along with their four children: Matthew (Heidi); George (Heather); Bronwen (Jason Justice); and Melissa (Ryan MacLeod). He is survived by one brother: Nicholas Bickey (Mindy) of Punta Gorda, Florida. He was the Grandfather of Evva Dianne (Chris Allen), Danny, Baxter, and Lucy Bickey; Chloe, Jonah, Olivia, Max and Brody Justice; Maia and Henry Bickey; and Rainer MacLeod. He was the Great-Grandfather of Avery and Atticus Allen. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his three brothers: Ernest, Theodore, and Vasil Bickey.
In 1976, Bickey founded Mine Power Systems, Inc., an industrial battery distributorship and battery charger manufacturer. He was very proud of two patents he was awarded in 2013 for innovative uses of direct current in battery-operated equipment.
In 1982, he built his first commercial real estate property in Harper Industrial Park in Beckley. From that time forward he built or renovated one building per year, on average. His belief in the importance of building properties descended from his grandfather, George Cashavelly ("Papu"), who worked as a barber for 45 years in Connecticut, and owned three apartment buildings.
Bickey was responsible for the renovation of the Beckley Post Office on North Kanawha Street, (now the IRS annex), the Bair Building, the Farris Department Store (now McBee's Irish Pub), the Silver Brand Men's Store (now the Raleigh Playhouse and Theatre), the Marie Conway Millinery (now the Bake Shoppe, and The Wildfire Saloon), and the F.W. Grant Building (now commercial office space). He was fond of restoring buildings on Neville Street because he met his wife of 46 years while she was working the box office at the Beckley Theatre. He also constructed several buildings in both the Harper Industrial Park and the Raleigh County Airport Industrial Park. In all of these businesses, he was aided by his long-time right hands: Dale Mays, Dianne Bennett, Shirley Dillon, and Valerie Brooks.
After coming to Beckley to attend Beckley College, Bickey worked as a proctor in Dr. John Daniel's DDD Dormitory on Neville Street, where he also managed Dr. Daniel's business venture, The Rathskellar, for three years. Bickey always credited Dr. Daniel with giving him his first chance in business, and referred to Dr. Daniel as his first mentor. In his early career, he taught fourth and fifth grade at Bellepoint Elementary School in Hinton, and was a salesman for Burroughs Corporation, where he received sales training he considered invaluable to his career path and success.
Bickey's past community involvements included Chairman (now known as "President") of Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of New River Parkway Authority, United Way of Southern West Virginia, Beckley Rotary Club (where he was a Paul Harris Fellow), Mabscott Lion's Club, Beckley Renaissance Committee, and the Salvation Army. He served as a Chairman of the Board of Advisors at Concord College (now Concord University) and as a Chairman of the Beckley Intermodal Gateway Project. He was the first president of the Beckley College Alumni Association, and he served for a time on the vestry of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and later, was instrumental in the acquisition of a dome for the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Bickey enjoyed golfing, playing chess, reading history and business books, watching baseball, especially his grandsons' teams, and the Tampa Bay Rays. For years he attended all the West Virginia Mountaineer football home games, as well as many away games and bowls. The last few years of his life, Bickey travelled extensively abroad with his wife. They visited Ireland four times, which inspired his development of McBee's Irish Pub, but his favorite trip was one taken in 2004 to the land of his heritage, Greece. He developed the Raleigh Playhouse to help foster the arts in Beckley after taking an interest in theater brought on by his son George's acting career. He also built a gallery space for the Beckley Art Group, which he dedicated to his wife (The Cynthia Bickey Art Gallery).
Incidentally, he loved sunshine, the beach, Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg, Va., steamed clams, maple walnut ice cream, Mickey Mantle, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, watching just about any movie on TCM, the great doo-wop groups of the 1950's and 1960's, especially The Drifters, Bob Dylan, Andrea Bocelli, and bar jokes. (One of his favorites: Grasshopper goes into a bar, asks for a beer. Bartender says, "You know, we got a drink named after you." Grasshopper says: "Ya got a drink named Fred?")
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 5th at the Church of God Family Worship Center, 224 Pinewood Drive, Beckley. The Episcopal Service of Burial of the Dead, Rite I, will be read by Rev. Jon White, rector at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, beginning at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Nicholas Bickey, Matthew Bickey, George Bickey, Jason Justice, Ryan MacLeod, and Chris Allen.
Honorary pallbearers are: Dave Abrams, Jerry Bays, Dianne Bennett, Bobby Dyer, John Farris, Earl Goodwin, Leonard Harrah, Tom Jenkins, Greeta Joshi, Kerry Lushbaugh, Dale Mays, Robert Martin, Brett Peck, Lew Savisky, Jimmy Smith, Rick Smith, Dan Snead, and Leonard Urtso.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the eight endowment funds Bickey established through the Beckley Area Foundation at RememberingDanBickey.com. Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 1901 S Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV 25801. Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via the guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net.
As a man who accomplished so much in life, he was proudest of the family he had created. He will be sorely missed.

Published by Connecticut Post on Jul. 4, 2014.
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This time of year is bittersweet now. When you were alive, and when the children were still at home, we were on vacation, usually in a condo at Virginia Beach. I remember lazy days in the sand, meals at Ocean Eddie´s, and the naive sense that summers would always be like that-taking vacation when business was slowest for our company, having all our children with us, looking forward to a new school year for them, and a new construction project for us. In a way, Dan, you are lucky never to have known what I know now-that life shrinks as it goes on, that the future doesn´t hold promise as it once did, that your best times are memories now. You died too young to know that, still in the midst of trying to revitalize downtown Beckley. I´m glad you didn´t live to see your dreams dashed, to have your heart broken by the reality of indifference. It´s nine years in a few days since you proved your prediction of "never coming home from Cleveland." I wish you had been wrong. I hope you are resting in peace, DB.

Cynthia (Rock)

Family

June 28, 2023

This last year was the hardest so far without you. Our children comfort me, though, and I am so grateful to have you still, in them. It will be seven years at 1:31 am since I looked in your eyes for the last time.

Cynthia

June 30, 2021

I miss you grandpa, Ill never forget the great moment's we had together.

Olivia

Family

May 2, 2021

Almost six years since I lost you, darling, and I know you can never be replaced in my heart or in life. I hope I will know you again after death. Love goes on and on.

Cynthia Bickey

Spouse

June 28, 2020

A candle for you, my darling. You never liked the dark.

Cynthia

July 23, 2014

Nick:
Sorry about your brother. I know how you feel. My condolances to you, your family and Danny's family.
George Leka

July 22, 2014

Dan was very good to me. I worked with him in his restaurants & bars. He was a good business man and was fair to work with. I will miss him and the fun we had putting the designs together. God bless the family.

Phil Whisman

July 9, 2014

My deepest condolences to the family of Daniel Bickey. We grew up together in the same 6 family house on Lee Ave. in Bridgeport that was owned by his 'Papu' George. God rest his soul and may his memory be eternal

James Pandaru

July 9, 2014

My deepest condolences to Nick and the entire Bickey family. I hadn't seen Dan or Nick for decades but I still remember them from my years growing up in the West End of Bpt., CT, and from Elias Howe grammar school, and Bassick High School. May God comfort you all and give you the peace that only he can. Dan left a legacy you can all be proud of. God bless.

Willie Carr, Jr

July 6, 2014

Had the privilege of playing football with Dan @ Bassick High School. I knew he had the ability to go a long way in this world and he certainly did just that! I celebrate his life and mourn his passing.

Al Mack

July 5, 2014

I am truly sorry for the loss of your loved one. I hope you can find comfort and encouragement in knowing god cares for you. 1 Peter 5;7

Brianna

July 5, 2014

Growing up in the West End with all Bickey boys will always be a highlight of my life. Getting to see Danny and Cynthia a few years ago when they came to Atlanta was a pleasure talking about old times. Danny was a great man and was admired by everyone who ever met him. God Bless Cynthia and the entire family at this time of sorrow.

John Lula

July 5, 2014

Sorry to hear of Danny's passing. I have great memories of our times in high school. He was a successful business man who always gave back to his community. My sympathies to his family. Nicky thinking about you and praying for you. Now just think your four brothers are all in heaven looking out for you. Be strong.

Kathleen Nash Donlan

July 4, 2014

"When our Lord Callieth"
Never has one said Neigh"
It is far more to be greatly recognized by being Honorably Noted than just by being Honorably Bred----Danny's life proves both.The above statement exemplifies the sum of our lives.
Briefly condolences to all of to he Bickey Family
" I will always be with You-Says our Lord "

Nicholas P Fatse

July 4, 2014

To the Bickey Family,Dan was a friend along with his brother Nick and teammate of mine at Bassick many years ago.Always a hard nosed player who gave his all to his teammates and the game of baseball who approached his life in the same fashion as athletics.A wonderful family man,an extremly succesful business man who always placed his family first and formost.Although his will be missed by all, may you keep his spirit alive within you with the wonderful memories and special moments you shared as you celebrate a life well lived.Our deepest Sympathy, Mary Nash and Gary Zingo Palm City Fl.

Gary Zingo

July 4, 2014

This was a geat man.I have worked for him for ten years now andhave nothing but respect for him. I already miss his morning call giving me my tasks for the day.Because of this mans hard work there are jobs for many of local workers
I am grateful to have known him and have come to feel a part of the extended MPS and Bickey family.

jack Harvey

July 3, 2014

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