Captain Matthew J. Hickey, Medical Corps, USN (Ret.), died peacefully surrounded by his family on April 2, 2024 following a fierce battle with pancreatic cancer that he fought with unwavering courage. He was 59.

Raised in Bay Shore, NY, Matt was the son of Edward and Eileen Hickey. He graduated from Bay Shore High School in 1982, reported to the Naval Academy the same year and was assigned to the 36th Company, serving as a company commander his first-class year. He graduated in 1986 with a BS in Ocean Engineering, was commissioned an ensign, and received orders to BUD/S (SEAL) training (Coronado).

Following BUD/S graduation in Class 141, Matt spent the following 8 years as a Naval Special Warfare Officer, serving tours at SEAL Team ONE (Coronado), SEAL Team EIGHT (Virginia Beach) and the Naval Academy. He deployed in support of Operations EARNEST WILL (1988), SHARP EDGE (1990) and DESERT SHIELD (1990). While stationed at the Academy, he assisted 17 midshipmen in successfully executing Operation MISSING MASCOT, the only known “mule-napping” of all four Army mules just prior to the 1991 Army-Navy football game.

He met the former Cynthia (Cindy) L. Armistead of Virginia Beach in 1989 and was married in November of 1992.

In 1995, Matt transitioned to the Medical Corps. He graduated from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (1999), completed internship at Cook County Hospital (2000) and residency at University of Illinois at Chicago (2003). He received initial board certification in Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2004 and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine in 2005. As a Navy physician, he served tours at Naval Special Warfare Group FOUR (Norfolk), the US-UK Personnel Exchange Program (Alverstoke, England), the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Virginia Beach), and Commander Submarine Force Atlantic (Norfolk).

Upon Navy retirement in June of 2017, Matt continued his service to the country as an occupational medicine specialist at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Concurrently, he became a co-owner of a medical practice – Neuroenhancement & Cognitive Optimization Associates (NEUCOA), to help veterans with TBI and PTSD. He volunteered his free time as an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Norfolk), as an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine exam developer for the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Navy SEAL Foundation. His greatest joy was spending time with Cindy and their daughters.

Matt is survived by his wife, Cindy; their daughters, Kate, Anne, Claire and Emma; his parents Edward and Eileen; his siblings Edward/Ed Jr, William/Bill (Margaret), and Susan Masto (Chris); and 16 nephews & nieces.

A celebration of life will be held at the Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following charities:

Navy SEAL Foundation https://www.navysealfoundation.org/donate/

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center (specify pancreatic cancer) https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Kimmel

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://pancan.org/