Following a brief illness, Bob Hicks passed away peacefully on April 23, surrounded by family members. He was 96 years old. Bob was pre-deceased by his wife, Jane, and he leaves behind his children, Roberta and Rick, who have requested privacy during this difficult time and have shared that services will be held privately.
By John Leone
Bob was instrumental in motocross racing in New England. He was a co-founder of the New England Sports Committee and shared responsibility for featuring European riders for their first appearance in the United States at the Pepperell, Massachusetts, motocross track, which he also helped to develop. Bob’s Cycle Sport Magazine, which started as a newsletter, featured regional scrambles and motocross activities in the New England region.
Bob was a co-founder of the New England Trail Rider Association, which promoted enduro and recreational off-road riding in the Northeast. Bob was a two-time ISDT competitor and managed a USA team for the event. Bob’s Trail Rider Magazine featured enduro competition while insisting on responsible riding, environmental sensitivity, good community relations, motorcycle reviews, tech tips and occasional national or international articles. The complete Cycle Sport and Trail Rider Magazine collections now reside in the Classic Cycles Cafe at Cycles128 in Beverly, Massachusetts.
For 40 years, Bob Hicks shared his passion for boating with thousands of subscribers through his magazine, Messing About in Boats. In the first issue, he wrote, “I like wooden boats. I like sailing wooden boats. I like rowing wooden boats. I like restoring and building wooden boats. I also like the old one-lunger motor launches and mahogany speedboats. I’ve found wood/canvas canoes fascinating. I like the idea of coastal cruising in small boats. I think steamboats are great. I’m not a purist about wooden boats; I just prefer wood to use and work on.”
On a personal note, Bob was a dear friend, a motorcycling mentor, an encourager, and a wonderful storyteller who entertained me with stories and introduced me to other motorcycling opportunities and important figures in the sport. When I was just getting into motorcycling in 1971, I met Bob, who let me serve as an occasional cub reporter and photographer for Trail Rider Magazine. Over the years, we grew closer, visiting and helping to produce motorcycling events such as the 2003 30th-anniversary ISDT reunion ride. During a serious health challenge I faced in 2010, Bob and Jane provided real and moral support that helped me get through grueling chemotherapy sessions, an act of kindness and concern for which I will forever be thankful. R.I.P. Bob.CN
