Francis Daniel Hickey, 88 August 24, 1933 - July 15, 2022

Haverhill – Francis Daniel Hickey, 88, passed away on July 15, 2022 at Haverhill Crossings. He was born August 24, 1933 in Haverhill to Francis Timothy and Jeanette (Marchand) Hickey. After the untimely death of his mother when he was three years old, he was raised by his grandparents Daniel W. and Nellie “Ma” Hickey, both of whom were direct descendents from Cork County Ireland. He grew up on 8^th Avenue.

He attended St. James School and the Haverhill Trade School where he studied the electrical trade and served as Senior Class Secretary. After high school, he joined the U. S. Coast Guard where he served in various jobs for twenty years. Some of his most notable assignments were the Hampton Coast Guard Station, Boston Light Ship, and the USCGC Evergreen, the first Coast Guard Oceanographic ship. He served as the NCOIC of the Boating Safety Team. In his final years of active duty, he became the first Drug and Alcohol Counselor for the First District of the Coast Guard, a job in which he traveled all over New England speaking to both the military and public schools about the dangers of drugs. When he was ready to retire, the Admiral requested that he stay for two more years and offered to promote him to the next rank once each year, but he decided to retire.

In his civilian life he worked as the head of maintenance at Baker Katz Nursing Home and somehow found the time to earn an Associate Degree in Law Enforcement from Northern Essex Community College.  Some years later, he joined his son working in the remodeling business, where it was not uncommon for the crews to fight over who would have Frankie on staff for the day. His last job was working with the maintenance crew at Northern Essex Community College.

He was a family man who enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Immensely talented, he could make something out of nothing. He loved his garden, especially his tomatoes, which he would always grow so many that he would pass them out to friends and neighbors. More of a homebody, he always said he “had enough traveling in the Coast Guard” but he did do a few short trips and a memorable one to Las Vegas with his beloved wife Annette. He was a life Member of the Amvets Post 147 Haverhill.

Frankie will be best known for his stories about growing up on 8^th Avenue and the Coast Guard. People used to love to sit and hear about his adventures which started out with “now let me tell ya” and ended with the listener laughing until they cried.

He leaves behind his son Francis Daniel (Dan) Hickey Jr. and his fiancé Laura Ann Greene of Haverhill and a daughter Jean Marie Benjamin and her husband Jason of Merrimac. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren; Justin Benjamin, Jake Benjamin, Jessica Benjamin, Jarred Benjamin, Jamie Benjamin, Jocelyn Roy, Katelyn Garrity, and Mark St. Onge, and eight great grandchildren; Hunter Ago, Baylee Ago, Emersyn Ago, Ethan Reynolds, Elliott Reynolds, Aria St. Onge, Liam Gonzalez, and Madi Rose Gonzalez.

He was preceded in death by his infant son Brian Paul, his wife Marie Annette (Dionne) Hickey, his daughter Kathleen Ann Hickey Roy, and his sister Jeanette “Ginger” Hickey Fountaine.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday July 20 from 4:00 PM until 7:00PM at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill. Funeral services will begin at 9:00AM at the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Thursday July 21 at 10:00AM at Saint James Church, Winter St. Haverhill. Burial will be private. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com