Hickey family creates legacy of generational support with endowed scholarship and estate-plan gift in will

James Duffy Hickey and his wife Robin have decided to continue generational support of Nazareth by joining the Founders Legacy Society through a provision in their will. This enhances the impact they have made annually over the last 30 years.

Duffy’s father, E. James Hickey, was a longtime member of the Board of Trustees at Nazareth as a member of the community. He met his wife Mary serendipitously when they were both on a troop ship going to northern Africa in January 1943. Mary was an Army nurse and Jim an anti-aircraft captain. They fell in love and after six dates and were married in Naples, Italy, in 1944.

When Mary passed away in October of 1986, an anonymous donor set up an endowed scholarship in Mary and Jim’s names that Jim and many others supported throughout his life. When he was later remarried, his second wife, Rita Carberry, was also recognized on the scholarship.

“When I count the many blessings I have had in my life, the list always starts with the luck of having two such wonderful people for parents. Nazareth was very important to my dad, as evidenced by the fact that he served on the Board and was Emeritus to the Board for 25 or more years. Although I did not attend Nazareth, I thought that any contributions to the scholarship in the name of my parents and stepmother was an appropriate way to continue to honor and remember them. Our annual contribution is always made on November 22, their wedding anniversary. I am not alone in these contributions, and I’m thankful that so many people remember my parents in such an impactful way.”

The E. James, Mary, and Rita Hickey scholarship has had a meaningful impact on many Nazareth students, and the support continues to grow thanks to the commitment made by Duffy and Robin—among many others.

“We appreciate very much the information that Nazareth provides to us each year about the students benefiting from the scholarship. This is often accompanied by handwritten letters or notes from those students. These are always very well done and shows their gratitude.”