Lawrence J. "Larry" Hicks

2014

On September 17, 2014, Lawrence J. "Larry" Hicks, 88, died peacefully at MaineGeneral Medical Center with family by his side. Larry was born on Staten Island, N.Y., son of Edward and Mary (Cunningham) Hicks.

He graduated from St. Peter's High School for Boys in 1943. After working for AT & T for one year, Larry entered the U.S. Army in August 1944 where he served in the Fourth Infantry 25th Division. He was a radio operator and served in the Pacific campaign. Larry was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant in October of 1946.

Following his service to his country, he attended Manhattan College in New York City, graduating with high honors and receiving a degree in electrical engineering.

After four years of college, Larry married the love of his life, Sarah (Lyons) Hicks in 1950. They were not blessed with children but spent 27 happy years together. Also in 1950, he began his career with the Charles Zweifel Electrical Engineering Co. where he later became vice president of the firm. He gave 45 years of service as a licensed professional engineer. In 1995 when the Charles Zweifel Co. went bankrupt, Larry went to work for the Forest Electric Company in N.Y. as a project manager. He retired in 1999.

After retiring, Larry was very active in his community, especially with the Clark Avenue Civic Association. He also enjoyed traveling with family, drawing and painting, and he loved to take walks. He was a lifelong member of VFW Labetti Post 2159. He was a member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Richmond Town, Staten Island, N.Y.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he moved to Augusta, Maine, in 2005 to be close to his niece, Mary Ellen, and her husband, Tom, and to enjoy the "good life" of Maine. He was a member of St. Michael's Parish in Augusta.

Lawrence was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Sarah, his brother, Edward T. Hicks, and sister-in-law, Ellen Hicks, his sister-in-law, Gloria Hicks, and his niece, Elizabeth Hicks.

He is survived by a brother, Thomas Hicks of N.Y., and 14 nieces and nephews: Mary Ellen Molokie and husband Tom, Edward T. Hicks Jr. and wife Alice, William Hicks and wife Elizabeth, Kathleen Melnik and husband Richard, Celeste Sheehy and husband Gary, Thomas Hicks and wife Lois, Kevin Hicks and wife Catherine, Martin Hicks and wife Laurie, Lawrence Hicks and wife Patricia, Dorothy Bloy and husband John, Michael Hicks and wife Kathleen, Lynn Allen and husband Robert, Lori Murray and husband Kevin, and Robert Lyons and companion. He is also survived by many great- and great-great-nieces and -nephews.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Mid-Maine Cremation Service, Waterville, ME and the Hanley Funeral Home. S.I., N.Y. There will be a funeral mass and burial on Staten Island, N.Y., on October 4, 2014. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Ave., Parkinson Plaza, Staten Island, NY 10305.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful caregivers who helped Larry stay in his own home for so long. The family would also like to give special thanks to the nurses and doctors of MaineGeneral Medical Center who gave Larry extraordinary care and kindness, along with support to his family during his time there.