Joseph Malte Bickley

Joseph Mälte Bickley
12/27/66 – 3/21/24

Survived by
Rebecca Bickley (wife)
Thomas McCarthy (step-son)
Sisters Lesley Bickley Ozier, Susan Bickley Sitko, Nancy Bickley Collora
Aunts, Uncles, and numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews

Parents: Lt Col (ret., USMC) Roy Bickley (12/7/19 – 5/1/09), Marilyn (Wiedeman) Bickley (10/23/38 – 10/9/06)

Born in the “Republic of Berkeley” California, Joe’s parents moved to Santa Fe, NM where he grew up, attending Santa Fe Prep, before being accepted to College of Wooster.  He went on to study at University of Oxford in London, California Western School of Law, San Diego State University, and the University of Arizona, where he was working on his Doctorate in GIS and History.

His career as an attorney spanned two decades with practice in multiple fields and locations, including time as an attorney assisting people seeking asylum.  Following his retirement from law, he went back to school, obtaining Masters Degrees in history and GIS.  He put his knowledge out into the world, doing what he most loved, teaching US History and World History at Pima Community College.  He was incredibly proud of his job with PCC and enjoyed interacting with his students every semester.

Joe was a force to be reckoned with.  His love of learning helped him to have common ground with everyone he met, and he met everyone as a friend. He was boisterous, vibrant, and funny. He had the biggest heart, he was endlessly  kind, compassionate, incredibly generous and fair with everybody, and everyone knew that they could rely on him if he was needed.  But most of all, he was a fighter and he was incredibly brave.  He faced all the obstacles that came his way with courage and fortitude and fought right up to the end.

He was a voracious reader, he loved studying history of all kinds.  He loved to work on scale models, he was an accomplished artist, and he loved building Legos.  He truly enjoyed watching both Australian rules football ("footie") and cricket, and was well-versed in the world of professional basketball.  He enjoyed time with his close circle of friends participating in activities including D&D and tabletop war games. He owned a small drone and would fly it often. 

But more than anything else, he loved spending time outside in the sunshine of the Arizona desert, playing with his chickens and watching them run around his yard.  His “chickies” were his passion and he loved them very much.
He was the best chicky papa and his babies knew how much he loved them.

If you would like to make a contribution in his name to his favorite cause, that would be The Pecker Palace – a rooster rescue in San Tan Valley, AZ.  The lady who runs it, Kim Bennett, takes in dozens of unwanted and abandoned roosters every single year so they can live their lives in happiness and wellness while she tries to find them good forever homes.  Outside support is absolutely invaluable to those wayward boys.  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1521287245363708/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1521287245363708/) or you can reach out to Rebecca for additional information (becky92106@yahoo.com (mailto:becky92106@yahoo.com))

Joe departed after a long illness and a more than five-month-long hospitalization.  Sadly, he never made it home to see his beloved chickies again.