Roger Bruce Bickel

Dr. R. Bruce Bickel passed away peacefully in the morning on Monday, November 24, 2025. In his own words, his time here came to an end “not a moment too soon or a moment too late.” He was 82 years old. One can’t talk about Bruce’s life without speaking of the Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1966 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and where he played quarterback for the Naval Academy football team. While there, he received the Midshipman of the Year Award from the Annapolis, Maryland Chamber of Commerce and also the Thompson Trophy, awarded to the graduating senior of the Naval Academy who had done the most to promote intercollegiate athletics. “Go Navy. Beat Army,” was a constant, lighthearted refrain.

After graduating, he served as a naval gunfire officer in the Vietnam war, an experience that he didn’t speak about much except perhaps to mention the orphanage he helped to build while there and that the injuries he sustained during a rescue mission sent his life on an alternative path. Instead of pursuing his dream job as a Navy Admiral, he obtained his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia and Oxford, England. He served as senior pastor in churches in Kansas and Illinois and in several capacities with the Fellowship of Christian Athletics.

His path changed again when he took a job at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh in order to be closer to his aging parents. There, he served as Managing Director of the Private Foundation Management Services Group of PNC Wealth Management, while also pastoring several local churches in the Pittsburgh area on an interim basis. Through his Christian faith and the Bible studies he created and led, he touched many lives. Bruce loved and lived the scriptures. He was a gifted teacher. He had a gift of taking difficult Biblical passages and then explaining them in short memorable phrases that made them understandable- known as “Bickelisms.” He was a fervent believer of the core beliefs of Protestant Reformation- scriptures alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.

Bruce is survived by his devoted wife, Dr. Rebecca Bickel; two loving stepchildren, Bill Morris and Amelia Morris; a son-in-law, Matthew Bookman; two grandchildren, Teddy and Isaac; nephew, Bart Bickel; niece, Molly Pearce and her two children, Anna and Ben; and last but certainly not least, a large Bernedoodle named Pax.

All are welcome to attend his memorial service on Saturday, December 13, 2025, 11 AM at Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 255 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15216. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, www.t2t.org. Arrangements entrusted to WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, Scott Twp., 412-563-2800. A link to stream his memorial service will be on his obituary page on the funeral home website.

www.slaterfuneral.com