(March 29, 1958 - Sept 11, 2012)– B. Sc, M.Eng (Electrical), PhD Candidate, and loving husband of Rolanda Ryan. The most gentle man I have ever met, the man I fell in love with in March of 1995 and have loved every single day since, lay beside me, at home, and held my hand for comfort, support, and strength as he courageously left to be reunited with his deceased parents. They are all together now, in a place where love is eternal, suffering is no more, and peace prevails. I will meet my darling Kenneth again someday. Until then, I will cherish each hour and day we spent together. Ken lived over nine years after his initial cancer diagnosis, a diagnosis that brought with it a two-month prognosis, in November of 2002. Ken was considered by all who knew him to be a ‘Miracle Man’. To me, he was that, but so much more. His humor brought me to him, his quiet strength and compassionate soul kept me there. To love him was a privilege. To be loved by him was the most amazing feeling in the world. Ken was brilliant on so many levels, he was kind, and gentle beyond measure. Even an insect in the house deserved freedom, and he would go to great lengths to catch and release it, rather than have it suffer or die. Yet, while he himself suffered tremendously, he did so with acceptance and resolve. He did not complain and he did not get angry. He comforted me when I felt those emotions. Ken was my strength and my inspiration. He was my life anchor during a very turbulent decade and I shall miss him terribly, every day, until the day we are reunited as a family. Ken is predeceased by his Mother and Father, Kenneth and Cecilia (Hoskins) Hickey, and our children, who died in utero, in Ken’s words ‘too beautiful for this world’. He leaves behind, to cherish their memories of him, his sisters: Carol (Edward Miner), Ottawa, Ont. and Lorraine, Teulon, Manitoba; his brothers: Shawn (Judy) and Brian, St. John's; aunt Mary Abbott, Mississauga, Ont.; nieces: Krista, Abigayle, Nicole, Mikhaela, Danielle and Chantelle; nephews: Tyler, Tyler, Ian, and special nephew and best buddy, Declan; Mother- and Father-in-Law, Lydia and John Ryan; sister-in-law, Darlene (Jean-Claude Derible); and special cousin, Angela (Sandy Gibbons). Also left to treasure his friendship and their memories of him are an extended family of Canadian and American cousins, friends in NL and abroad, and others who are family-by-choice. Ken spent most of his 30 year career working in Surface Wave Radar, specializing in signal processing and software development. As such, he also leaves behind treasured colleagues at Northern Radar, Raytheon, Guigne International, and C-Core. Ken was very much loved by a huge circle of people who will miss him beyond any earthly measure. Cremation has already taken place. Visitation to share stories and recollections of his too-short life will be at Caul's Funeral Home, LeMarchant Road on Thursday, September 13th, from 5–9 p.m. and on Friday, Septemebr 14th, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass, St. Teresa’s Church on Mundy Pond Road on Saturday, September 15th, at 9:30 a.m. and burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Flowers gratefully accepted or donations in Ken's honor, to a charity he supported for the last two decades, would be equally appreciated. Donations may be made to: Planned Parenthood, 203 Merrymeeting Road, St. John’s, NL, A1C 2W6.

The illness tried to take you from me a decade ago

Our love and your fighting spirit kept it at bay

While this disease took your body, organ by organ

Your heart and soul chose to fight to stay

I held on to you as tightly as I could, for as long as I could

Until now, when you tell me you are ready to be free.

I cannot hold you back.You have suffered too much

I’ll let you go in peace, sleep my darling, while you wait for me.

With all my love, for always and forever, your wife and life partner,
Rolanda