William Quentin Stickley Obituary

Phil Davis '66 posted a photo:

07/30/2026
I just learned of Bill's passing. I am so sorry. I went to high school with Bill at Bladensburg Senior High, Bladensburg, MD (go Mustangs!). We were in the Class of '66. I played in a Rock and Roll band (the "Biscaynes") with Bill during our senior year. (1965-1966) I believe that Bill put the band together. He played the electric piano and was our lead singer. I played rhythm guitar. Our other band members were Bill Kitchin (lead guitar), Chip McCauley (bass guitar), and two drummers played with us: Alex VeLong and Bo Bobick.

We covered some of the popular songs and played classic rock standards (with only a few chord progressions, you can play a lot of songs!). Some of the more memorable songs we played were Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones (yes, Bill was our Mick Jagger!) and Hang on Sloopy. We played mostly local teen clubs and school dances, including one for our high school. One of our most memorable gigs was a New Eve's party hosted by several of the Washington Redskins football team, including the legendary Hall of Famer (then rookie) wide receiver Charlie Taylor. He lived in an apartment near our high school (times have changed, eh?). We we scheduled to play until 1am but when the time came, the partiers didn't want us to stop so we agreed to "pass the hat" for one more hour. We made more from that one hour than we did for the rest of the gig!!!

Bill did not come to many of our class reunions, but I think he was at the first one (15-years, I think). He suggested we put the band back together ... I don't think he was totally kidding! Bill was a great guy and friend. He always said, back then, that we wanted to become a Lutheran minister. Good for him for pursuing and achieving his goal.

I'll upload a couple of band photos. Bill is on the keyboard. I am the middle guitar. At one of our class reunions, one of our alums told me, "Actually, I thought you guys were pretty good." A bit back-handed, perhaps, but I'll take it!

Unfortunately, I am the last surviving member of the band, so I am especially saddened to have learned of Bill's passing.

Bill's mother lives in Riderwood Senior Living Community in Silver Spring, MD, the same place that my late parents lived. My mother (Ruth Davis) and Bill's mom, Jane, became friends and I routinely got reports that Bill had come down from PA to visit his mom. Several years ago, I contacted Bill and suggested we have lunch together the next time he came down for a visit. We did have lunch and we had a great time reminiscing about the band days and trying to recall some of the songs that were in our sets.

Hopefully, my anecdotes will bring a few similes to those who knew and loved Bill ... I will miss him! My best to his family and friends!

Phil Davis
Davidsonville, MD