John Michael “Mike” Hickey, age 79, passed away at his home on May 24th, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Suzanne R. (Meunier) Hickey with whom he enjoyed 57 years of marriage.

Mike was born in Fall River, MA and was the son of the late John F. and Rita A. (Levesque) Hickey. He grew up in Taunton, MA, graduated from Coyle High School in 1962, and was an Eagle Scout.  He graduated from Bridgewater State College with a Bachelors of Science in Biology in 1966.

Mike worked for the State of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries as a Marine Biologist for 52 years, retiring as the Assistant Director and Manager of the Shellfish program in March, 2020.  He co-founded the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) in 1981 to improve shellfish safety and promote commerce across interstate borders.  He served as the ISSC Executive Board Chairman from 1997-2001 and 2008-2013, making him the longest-serving board member and board chair person. 

Mike was a lifelong history buff, an avid fan of the New York Yankees and Providence Bruins. He enjoyed being outside, fishing, skiing, gardening, boating, and anything to do with the ocean. 

He loved spending time with his family, particularly his wife, Sue.  He could catch a fish in a desert, and was fond of out-fishing his sons Eric and Jon with regularity.  He fully embraced his role as grandfather, or Pepere as his grandchildren liked to call him, spoiling them with all his might as often as he could. 

In addition to his wife, Sue, Mike is survived by his two sons Eric M. Hickey and his wife Bobbi-Ann Ruggiero-Hickey of North Easton, MA, and Rear Admiral Jon Hickey, United States Coast Guard, and his wife Erin O’Brien of Norfolk, VA; his five grandchildren Celia Hickey, Elise Hickey, Lucie Hickey, Charlie Hickey, and Angie Hickey; and his siblings Peter Hickey (deceased), Marcia Welch, Judy Floor, Patricia Berard, Joyce Hickey, Thomas Hickey, and William Hickey.

Visitation will be held at Crapo-Hathaway Funeral Home, 350 Somerset Ave, Taunton from 9:00am - 10:00am on June 3rd, 2023, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Anns Church, 675 North Main Street, Raynham, MA at 11:00. Internment will be private.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers (www.t2t.org) in memory of Mike Hickey.