 Born in Dansville, New York, Dennis Hickey was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rochester on June 7, 1941 by Bishop James E. Kearney.On January 5, 1968 Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Titular Bishop of "Rusuccuru" and Auxiliary Bishop of Rochester.He was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, on March 14, 1968.