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SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. -- Robert "Bob" Wick, father, husband, son, brother, artist, environmentalist, friend, newspaper publisher and teacher, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Vail, Ariz. Wick and his spouse of 42 years, Estellean Wick, have lived in Sierra Vista, Ariz., since meeting in 1978.
He was also a former publisher of the Sierra Vista Herald and the Bisbee Daily Review and was a nationally-recognized sculptor in bronze. He was 86.
Wick was the co-owner, with his older brother, Walter M. Wick, of Wick Communications, a three-generation multi-media company that has operations in 11 states. In 1926, the Wick family purchased their first newspaper, the Niles Daily times in Niles.
Wick's monumental bronze sculptures, which are featured in exhibits throughout the U.S., are distinctive living trees and plants placed inside the bronzes to reflect the flora and strength of Earth and their connection with mankind. His art is rich in emotion, thought and purpose. His sculpture is on display at the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University in Ohio and several Wick newspapers.
Robert J. Wick was born March 27, 1935, in Niles, to Milton and Rosemary Lomas Wick.
His father and uncle, James, were newspaper publishers and started the family business in 1926. Robert and his older brother, Walt, who died in 2016, were exposed early to a community newspaper's influence. Not only did the Niles Daily Times publish community journalism and news, it took on organized crime in and around the Niles and Cleveland metro area, revealing corruption and reinforcing small businesses that were impacted by mob influence. These early impressions left Wick with a sense of faithfulness and courage that he imbued to later generations of Wick Communications publishers.
Wick graduated in 1957, with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
He graduated with a master's degree in fine art in 1962, from the Cranbrook Academy of Art outside Detroit. His MFA enabled him to teach in the State University of New York (SUNY) system in Fredonia, N.Y.
Wick was a U.S. Army Reserve veteran.
Wick and his brother, Walt, bought out the shares of their uncle, James Wick, in 1965, and were partners with their father, Milton. After Milt's death in November 1981, they assumed controlling shares and interests. The company was restructured with daily and non-daily newspapers combined into a single entity, which today is Wick Communications. With their shared leadership, the company expanded into markets in Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, California, Alaska and Colorado. They also grew their existing newspapers in Arizona and Louisiana. The company's first newspaper, outside of Niles, was the Daily Herald in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. It was sold in 2017.
In 1984, Wick was part of a group that sought to reduce copper smelter pollution in southeastern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. Groups Against Smelter Pollution (GASP) had a mission of healthy citizenship, preservation of the natural environment and an appreciation of the economic connections between the two countries. The group pressured elected officials from both countries and Phelps-Dodge executives. The push was for P-D to meet the Clean Air Act of 1986. In July 1986, the Environmental Protection Agency refused to renew a Phelps-Dodge exemption to the law and the smelter in Douglas was closed in 1987. The smelters in northern Sonora significantly reduced emissions.
He was also a member of the University of Arizona's astronomy board and worked toward solving light pollution so the residents of Southern Arizona could enjoy dark skies.
Wick planted more than 1,000 seedling trees over a 10-year period in his land in the Mule Mountains near Bisbee.
The Wick Poetry Center located in Kent, Ohio, was created in 1984 by Walt and Bob Wick and founding director, Maggie Anderson. The Wick brothers both lost sons tragically and the center was created to support young poets. The Stanley and Tom Wick Poetry Prize was created as a sustaining award to commemorate their lives.
Wick's sculptures have been exhibited in galleries, botanical gardens and universities throughout the U.S. In 1966, he showed at the Lattavo Gallery in Cleveland. He has also shown with Elaine Horwitch Gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz., Max Hatchinson in New York and had several shows at the Bienville Gallery in New Orleans. In addition, he exhibited at the botanical gardens in Tucson, Salt Lake City and Fort Worth, Texas. One spectacular Wick exhibit was in 2008, at the Denver Botanical Gardens.
Survivors are wife, Estellean Wick; daughters, Cornelia Gun (husband, Alan Gun) and Rosie Wick (husband, Sean Fitzpatrick); sons, Horace "BJ" Wick (partner, Natalie Gomez), Nate Wick (wife, Tera Wick) and Francis Wick (wife, Mandy Wick); daughter, Destiny Wick; grandchildren, Tristyn Wick, Gabriel Gun, Tres Wick, Gia Gun, Sunny Wick, Dorothy Wick, Sebastian Wick and Savannah Wick; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and many friends.
Services have taken place. They were held Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022.
Please send condolences to Wendee.grinde@wickcommunications.com.
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