William E. Bicknell

Nov. 22, 1935 - Sept. 3, 2025

Lexington, MA - William Edmund (Ed) Bicknell of Lexington Massachusetts passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Carleton Willard Village in Bedford. Ed was born in Kearney, Nebraska on November 22, 1935, to William Clarence Bicknell and Elaine Elizabeth Bicknell (nee Smoot). The family welcomed Ed's younger sister Elaine Clare in 1939. The family moved throughout Missouri and finally settled in Carbondale, Illinois.

Ed graduated University High School in Carbondale, Illinois, participating in basketball, band, debate (captain), speech, radio and science clubs. Ed's interests in electricity, radio and the sciences led him to receive a B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1957, an M.S. from MIT in 1958 and in 1963 earned his Ph.D from Stanford University in electrical engineering. After the death of Ed's father during his undergraduate studies, Ed worked additional jobs landscaping and with the local phone company to help support his family. Ed also participated in ROTC throughout college. In 1963 Ed began serving active duty in the Army Signal Corps in Vietnam and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain in 1965.

In 1956 Ed married Colleen Patton (divorced 1972). Ed's job opportunity with Sylvania Electronic Systems Applied Research Laboratory brought the couple to Boston. Ed and Colleen welcomed three children during their marriage: Amy, Ted and Elaine. In 1968 Ed began a 49 year career with MIT Lincoln Laboratories. In 1972 Ed met Mary Blake and they married in 1973. In 1974 Ed and Mary bought their family home of over 50 years in East Lexington, Massachusetts. Ed and Mary welcomed daughter Sarah (Meagher) in 1977.

Although Ed was often quietly working on complex equations at home (or even when at the beach), he had an amazing capacity for engaging with the world outside of his passion for engineering and mathematics. Throughout his life Ed was an avid Ham Radio hobbyist. He enjoyed connecting with other enthusiasts around the globe as well as supporting local events as an emergency short wave radio operator. Ed was also a musician and enjoyed playing early music on the recorder with the Cambridge branch of the Society of Recorder Players. Ed was also dedicated to improving his community, serving as a Town Meeting Member in Lexington, and working to preserve natural areas and public access to trails in East Lexington. Ed helped design and build a playground at Adams School (now Waldorf) in Lexington. His baking skills are family legend, specializing in pies, crusts, and cookies.

Ed was a devoted husband, father, brother and mentor. Mary and Ed travelled extensively and enjoyed camping, hiking and exploring global cuisine with friends and family. He was an at-home tutor for his children and actively participated in their extracurricular activities. Ed found opportunities to patiently teach valuable life skills and pass his knowledge and experience to others when working on projects. Ed maintained a very close relationship with his beloved sister and his extended family with regular phone calls, visits and travel.

Ed was professionally brilliant and accomplished in so many ways, yet the greatest joy in knowing Ed was to experience his brilliance through his humility, generosity, resilience and good humor. Ed lived his message to all of us: stay curious, stay connected and persevere. His motto might be: speak quietly and carry a big slide rule.

Ed is survived by his wife Mary Bicknell; sister Elaine Hake; children Ted Bicknell (Beth), Elaine Herzog (Bill), Sarah Meagher (John); grandchildren Cricket Bicknell (Josh), Davis Bicknell, Bryce Bicknell, Miles Herzog, Kate Meagher; stepgrandchildren Garrett Walter (Nikki), Jenna Walter; and nieces Holly Kennedy (David), Lisa Hake (David), Ginny Blake (Pixie), Eliza Blake (Udai). Ed was preceded in death by daughter Amy in 1982 and granddaughter Libby Herzog in 2023.

Ed's life will be celebrated at Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam St, Lexington, on Monday, September 8, 2025. The service will be followed by a private burial at Westview Cemetery, 520 Bedford St, Lexington. A reception for friends and family will follow at the Church of Our Redeemer. The service will be live streamed at https://www.ourredeemerlexington.org/livestream . The live stream will also be available through the link on Church of Our Redeemer's Facebook page (no login required).

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the charity of your choice.