Service measured not by GOLD,
                           but by the GOLDEN RULE

Service measured not by GOLD,
          but by the GOLDEN RULE

330.262.7771

Damon Douglas Hickey, 80, of Wooster died on Monday, December 26, 2022 at his home.

He was born October 30, 1942   in Houston, TX, the second of two children of Thomas Earl Hickey and the former Ethel Elizabeth Place. In 1967 he married Mary Lyons Temple in Princeton, NJ.

Damon was a graduate of Rice University (BA in philosophy, 1965), Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv, 1968), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MS in library science, 1975), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MA in history, 1982) and the University of South Carolina at Columbia (PhD in history, 1989). A Presbyterian minister from 1969 until 1976, he served pastorates in Texas and Oklahoma. He was Associate Library Director, Curator of the Friends (Quaker) Historical Collection, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, 1975-1991. He was Director of Libraries at the College of Wooster from 1991 until 2008.

He was the author of articles, chapters and books on religion, history, and library science and was active in historical and library organizations. He was one of the founders of the Five Colleges of Ohio Consortium. The Flo K. Gault Library for Independent Study and the Timken Science Library in Frick Hall were completed during his tenure at the College of Wooster. Damon was a member of the Wooster Friends (Quaker) Meeting from 1991 until he joined St. James Episcopal Church in 2001. He served on St. James’ vestry, chaired the Peace and Justice Committee, and was Building Shepherd for the recent renovation and addition to the Church building. He was active in the Diocese of Ohio where he served as a Missioner and was involved in the development of Bellwether Farm Camp, Retreat, and Education Center.

Damon was a member of the Wooster Homelessness Task Force. He and Mary were primary supporters of Princeton Place and a new project with the Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority that intends to convert the former Lamplighters facility into a community center and housing complex.

As an avid lover of music and singing, Damon most recently engaged his lifelong interest in choral music through participation in the Cantate Singers and the St. James choir.

Damon is survived by his wife, Mary Temple Hickey of Wooster, and daughter Doralyn (Brian) Rossmann of Bozeman, MT.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Doralyn Joanne Hickey.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. James Episcopal Church, 201 N. Market St., Wooster, OH with Rev. Evan Fischer officiating.

The family will greet friends following the service.

McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster, OH is assisting the family.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to St. James Episcopal Church, 122 E. North St., Wooster, OH 44691 (https://www.stjameswooster.org/donate) or to the Women’s Advisory Board, Damon and Mary Hickey Endowed Emergency Scholarship Fund, c/o Cathy Roche, Treasurer, 230 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.

12 Comments

  1. My heart goes out to all of you, most especially you, Mary. It was always pleasant meeting you in FL over our various lunches & seeing your lovely home in Wooster. I’ll be thinking of you in the coming days & holding you in my prayers. With love, Fan

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  2. Damon was such a strong presence, and even decades after New Garden his humor and wit and kindness remain in my memory.

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  3. I am so sad to hear of Damon’s passing, and I have been keeping you, Mary, and you and your husband, Doralyn, very much in prayer. He was such a vibrant presence. I have not seen him in years, but I remember him fondly. When I was a child, attending New Garden Friends Meeting, he spoke out in the silence once about how there are many different kinds of courage, and he went on to talk about the different kinds of courage. This really stuck with me, and helped me so much, and I still often remember his words. Sending love, healing, and warmth to all of you.

    Lizzette Potthoff

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  4. I am a life long friend of Damon’s as he & I went through elementary, junior high & high school together. He was one of the smartest students in our class, all the way through school!
    So sad to hear the news of Damon’s passing! He was a great man, husband, father, educator & friend.
    Prayers & sympathies to you, Mary, Doralyn & family.
    Donna Oberpriller Stevens

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  5. Damon was my longest-standing friend. We met in Hogg Junior High School at age 14 and followed each other through Reagan High School. Damon was involved in music and I was involved in speech. We were so simpatico! We had so many conversations and did so many things together. Sadly, we lost contact after we graduated when he attended Rice and I attended Baylor. But, thanks to his determination and tenacity, he tracked me down for our 50th high school reunion and we reunited. Since that time we had such a close relationship, talking to each other frequently over the phone and visiting each other when he and Mary would come to Florida during the winter. Damon’s friendship is irreplaceable, but I will carry the memories of it in my heart always. Damon, thank you for making my life more interesting and happier. Mary and Doralyn have my deepest sympathy in this time of loss.

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  6. My sister Joan we Ritter and I (Nancy Ritter Fridlind), first cousins of Damon, are deeply saddened at the news of his sudden and unexpected recent death. My daughter Ann (husband Andrew Ackerman) is equally shocked. Hoping to see Mary, Doralyn and other loved ones at the memorial service on Saturday, we are thankful for our loving contacts over the last few years since I unexpectedly relocated from California.

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  7. Mary, I was so shocked and sorry to hear of Damon’s passing. During his years at the College library he showed me compassion during the death of my mother back in 1991, and when my son was in a serious accident a few years later. My thoughts and prayers go out for you and your daughter for comfort and strength during this difficult time.

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  8. My condolences to you, Mary, and all of Damon’s family and friends. Damon was a good colleague in Ohio library associations – especially in the Five Colleges of Ohio group. I valued his perspective and unfailing kindness. Visiting the Wooster College Library for meetings with other librarians was always enjoyable and marked by fruitful conversation – very appreciated as we planned the new science library at Oberlin College. I also enjoyed catching up with Damon at Diocese conventions and know he was a good friend to Bellwether Farm and Camp. May years of wonderful memories continue to be a blessing.

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  9. Dr. Hickey was my first professor at the College of Wooster. His passion for learning made that early morning class fly by! He will be missed. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers

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  10. I had the great good fortune of following Damon as library director at Wooster after his retirement. He somehow learned of my love of pizza and treated me to lunch soon after I arrived in Wooster, eager to introduce me to spaghetti pizza. I’m not sure that those two foods should ever mingle, but the company was impeccable! Damon remained available whenever I had a question and we always had such enjoyable conversations. What a kind and generous soul. My deep condolences to Mary and his family.

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  11. My years at Guilford College were enriched by Damon and his family. Damon was the faculty sponsor for the Young Friends group of the college, before the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program was established. I remember that he took our small group to Fayetteville to spend a day of service at Quaker House. I got to use the family call to attend a class at UNC-G and then drive Doralyn’s carpool from New Garden Friends school. Years later I followed in Damon’s footsteps to attend UNC Library School. Damon was a wonderful and encouraging person in my life for a few years. It is wonderful to see how richly he and Mary spent their years after Guilford. Holding you all in the Light for your loss.

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  12. I just saw the notification of Damon’s death in the magazine American Libraries and send my sympathy to the family. Damon and I had a superficial but humorous connection as the only academic librarians sharing our last name. Were we related? Perhaps married? ?Whenever we met at conferences we shared a laugh. I was proud to be connected to such an esteemed colleague!

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