Robert Ashley Hicks

Robert Ashley Hicks passed away peacefully on October 9, 2021, at 8:30 pm, in Cape Coral, Florida, after an admirable and long battle with cancer.  He was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on April 8, 1949, the son of Arthur and Mary Jane (Hayes) Hicks.  He leaves his wife Carol A. Avard-Hicks of Cape Coral, Florida, his sister Christina (Hicks) Edgar, Phoebe (Hicks) Hickin (predeceased), his brother-in-law Clement B. Edgar, II, and several nieces and nephews, including Timothy H. Edgar, James H. Edgar, Clement B. Edgar, III, Benjamin C. Hickin, and Laura E. (Hickin) Babineau.    He received a BA degree, cum laude, from Harvard University in 1971, and studied lizards in Jamaica with R.L. Trivers.   Their work was published as:  The Social Behavior of Anolis Valencienni, R. A. Hicks, R. L. Trivers, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.  He followed the evolutionary biology from Irven Devore, Robert Trivers and Ernest E. Williams. In 1989, Robert and his wife, Carol A. Avard-Hicks, moved from Ipswich, Massachusetts to Cape Coral, where he served as the business & IT manager of Avard Law Offices, P.A.

Robert found spirituality in hiking trails, especially in Utah and Sequoia Nat’l Park, and in music.  He liked it all, from Punjabi music to Gregorian chants; from the Classics to Opera and Rock.  He was a director of Classic Chamber Concerts in Naples, Fl.; past director, trustee, and treasurer of the SW Florida Symphony in Ft. Myers; past director of the ArtsNaples, World Festival; Director of Stay In May Arts Festival, Naples; a supporter of The Bower School of Music, Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers; and, Director of Grand Piano Series in Naples.  He had fun filming and photographing performances given by these organizations.    

Robert was Director of the Harvard Alumni Association of SW Florida; President of the Harvard Club of Lee County; Board Member of the Schools Committee for the Harvard Club; and Director of the Cape Coral Municipal Charter School Foundation. 

Memorial Service will be held from 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM Sunday, November 7, 2021 at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral, FL 33914.

Memorial contributions in memory of Robert A. Hicks, may be made to a charity of your choice.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.