Naples, FL and Long Island, NY: Died peacefully in Rochester, NY on February 7, 2017. Dick was born in Douglaston, N.Y to the late Florence and William J. Wheeler on November 19, 1929. Dick served in the US Air Force for two years. Afterwards, he began working at The Maintenance Company, a business started by his grandfather in 1897 that installed and serviced, among other things, elevators and escalators. Dick assumed the Presidency when his father retired, and went on to become a respected negotiator representing the elevator industry at union and collective bargaining tables. He sold the business in 1978, continued his consulting business and opened a Minuteman Press print shop. Golf and fishing were two of his favorite pastimes but most special were those times spent with family and friends in, on or around the waters of Long Island.
Dick was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Wynn, his sister Marjorie and brother William.
He is survived by his wife Joyce and his children Greg Wheeler, Terri (Jim) Cullen and Jeff (Sue) Wheeler; grandchildren Boone Wheeler, Vivian Wheeler, Karl Wheeler, Kurt Wheeler, Christopher Cullen, Jahlea Cullen, Sean Wheeler, Scott Wheeler, Stephen Wheeler, Samantha Wheeler and Sara Wheeler; Joyce’s children Laurie Hilburg, Scott Micciche , Steven (Svetlana) Micciche, Leslie (Phil) Granger and several grandchildren.
Those wishing may donate in remembrance of Dick to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
I was best friends with Dick’s wife Wynn from our High School years at Bayside High School, I was with Winnie, as I called her then, when she met Dick. I last saw Dick at Crabmeadow Golf Course in Northport, LI. We both played in a league there. Shortly after seeing him he became ill. We had many happy times together. Sorry to hear of your loss.
From the late 1950’s,Dick and Bob were both members in EASA, the New York electrical apparatus association. Both boys along with their wives, Winnie and Marilyn, spent wonderful times together, both at Conventions(Montreal, Miami and San Francisco) and back home in Turtle Cove, Douglaston Manor, and Wyckoff, NJ, and later in Naples, with Dick and Joy.
All are wonderful memories and our thoughts and prayers are with both the Wheeler and Micciche families in their sorrow.
Marilyn and Bob Bishop, Wilmington, NC