Minnette Bickel dies

Cynthia Daniel · 11-13-2007, 11:52 PM

I was shocked and saddened to learn today that Minnette had passed away. No one had yet informed me. A lovely lady, Minnette was one of my earliest clients and a big supporter of Stroke of Genius. She will be missed!

A search on Ancestry.com resulted in the obituary that follows:

Minnette Duffy Bickel
April 21, 2007 - 5:18PM

Minnette Duffy Bickel, a life-long careerist in portrait painting and the fine arts, died suddenly of heart failure at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa., on March 31, 2007.

A native of New Bern, Mrs. Bickel was the daughter of Minnette Chapman Duffy, pioneering North Carolina historic preservationist, and Dr. Richard Nixon Duffy, a prominent surgeon of New Bern.

After meeting her future husband at a dance at the Trent Pines Club in 1945, she was married in 1947 to the late William Croft Bickel (1918-2002), a native Pittsburgher, decorated World War II Marine fighter pilot, Gulf Oil Corporation executive and managing director of Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts.

On the move numerous times with her corporate family until settling permanently in her husband

Jeff Morrow · 11-14-2007, 09:54 PM

Thanks for posting this Cynthia. I only spoke with Minnette a couple of times at the PSA conferences in years past and she seemed such a quiet unassuming lady...and very talented. I will miss seeing her.

Alexandra Tyng · 11-14-2007, 10:29 PM

I wish I had met her, and known about her, while she was alive!

Tom Edgerton · 11-23-2007, 05:09 PM

I met Minette in Alabama when I had just started painting portraits. Thus her broad Southern accent didn't seem out of place, so I didn't realize she originated just down the road from here.

By then Minette had achieved a high reputation, both around Pittsburgh and nationally. She was very cordial and encouraging to me, when I purely didn't have a clue what I was doing. I've always appreciated it.

She'll continue to be known by her work.

SB Wang · 11-24-2007, 11:58 AM

"I liken portraiture to being on stage. It's my production, my work is the star. Will the client and the subject be pleased? It's a very emotional moment, with a strong sense of drama at the point of presentation."

Yes, It's sacred to "being on stage".

Great performance, Minette!

Michele Rushworth · 11-26-2007, 10:37 PM

I had been studying her work earlier this year, not aware that she had passed away. I always liked her unique approach.