Bruce E. Wheeler

Born in Lebanon, NH, the son of the late Eugene and Mary Ann (Degel) Wheeler, Sr., he was a graduate of Vermont’s Hartford High School. Bruce received his Bachelor’s Degree from Castleton University in Castleton, VT, and went on to earn his Master’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University.

Coach Wheeler was the Head Baseball Coach of the Southeastern Massachusetts University/UMass Dartmouth Corsairs. From 1972 through 1983, he also coached basketball at Southeastern Massachusetts University. During his time at UMass Dartmouth, he was an integral part of the baseball program. During his more than three decades of coaching baseball for the Corsairs, he compiled an impressive record of 731-515-3. He also served as Assistant Director of Athletics at UMass Dartmouth for several years. From 1996-98, Wheeler served as National Chairman of the NCAA Division III Baseball Committee. Bruce was the 1997 Jack Butterfield Award recipient in recognition of his distinguished service and promotion of college baseball. In 1998 he was selected Little East Conference Coach of the Year. Impressively, Coach Wheeler is a member of 3 Halls of Fame: UMass Dartmouth (Class of 2003), NEIBA (Class of 2019), and the Little East Conference (Class of 2020).

Bruce was an avid golfer and a member of Allendale Country Club in Dartmouth. Like many times before people recognized his people skills and offered him the position of Ranger. From Ranger he was promoted to Starter with the prerequisite that his Wheeler stories did not delay the starting times.

Bruce’s witty humor always livened up the Longview Drive neighborhood. From his homemade eggnog, to dressing up like a dalmatian, to playing Acquire, Bruce was always able to make people feel joy and laugh with his antics.

His interest in cooking started with the Emeril Lagasse’s “bam” phenomenon and from there he started brewing his own beer as well as canning his own pickles and relish out of his vegetable garden. He even became quite a skilled home-baker.

Recently when he was looking for a new pet, he adopted two black kittens he aptly named “Thelma and Louise”. Two little trouble makers who filled his days with affection and companionship.

He always looked forward to his whole family being in Dartmouth for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Summer get-togethers. Whether Bruce was leading the laughter with Balderdash or reminiscing about his summer jobs in Vermont as a cow carcass handler or watermelon tosser, he always left his family in stitches.

He is survived by his three daughters, Michelle Wheeler and her husband Patrick Roose of Orlando, FL, Nichole Taylor and her husband Richard of Los Angeles, CA, and Courtney Derosia and her husband John of Wilbraham, MA; five grandchildren, Charles and James Taylor, Jackson, Tucker, and Addie Derosia; a brother Edgar Wheeler, Jr. of Florida and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Visitation on Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 3 pm to 7 pm in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his honor may be made to Jimmy Fund c/o Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 www.jimmyfund.org or Humane Society & Shelter, 31 Ventura Dr., Dartmouth, MA 02747 www.hsssco.org. To place an online tribute or for directions, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com