Scott J. Wheaton, of Aquebogue, died March 23 from complications of pneumonia. He was 64 years old.
He was born in Bronxville, New York on August 9, 1951 and was raised upstate before moving to Long Island in the 8th grade.
After graduating from Harborfields High School in 1969, he attended and graduated from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, then went on to earn a Master’s of Education and School Administration degree from Hofstra University.
He was an administrator at Eastern Suffolk BOCES for over 35 years. In his early career, he was a counselor serving Eastport School District, Mercy High School and several other eastern Long Island school districts.
Scott co-pastored at The Christian Fellowship Church in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and a former member of Riverhead Rotary. He served as Mattituck Boy Scout Troop 39 Scoutmaster for nine years and was one of the internationally certified Red Cross shelter managers in our local area serving during both hurricane Sandy and Irene.
In his retirement, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of designing and building his own home with his wife Sherrylee. They enjoyed spending time with their family and their dogs, traveling, scuba diving, skiing and hiking the Appalachian Trail.
He was a “loving, optimistic, caring and giving” man, his family said in a statement.
In addition to his wife of 19 years, he is survived by his daughter Kirsten Black and son-in-law Kevin of Astoria; daughter Melissa Scelsi and son-in-law John of Medford, son Jeremy and daughter-in-law Randylyn of Eastport, and son Benjamin and daughter-in-law Jennifer of Rocky Point. He was the beloved “Grampy” of Rhys (and soon to arrive baby sister) Black, Dylan and Lauren Gabriel, Julianna Wheaton, Tyler Scelsi, and the late Ryan Wheaton.
He is also survived by his brother Mark of North Chili, New York. He was predeceased by his parents Dr. Gordon and Harriette Wheaton of Centerport, and Marion and Frank Simon of Maryland, New York.
A celebration of Scott’s life will be held at McLaughlin Heppner funeral home in Riverhead, on April 23 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
The family requests memorial donations to: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Attention: Royce Gibson
779 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425-08007 (Please indicate “Scott Wheaton” in the memo section of the donation check.)
The family also requests stories about and pictures of Scott be sent to: Sherry Wheaton, ℅ Hobbit Haven,50 West Lane, Riverhead, N.Y. 11901. These will be made into a book for his grandchildren in order for them to better know their “Grampy” better, his family said.
