Bobby Wheeling
Vice President, Jamaica Rotary
Westbury
COMMUNITY INVOLMENT: Since his retirement in 1998, 71-year-old Bobby Wheeling has been a devoted member of the Jamaica Rotary. In 2002, he became president and remained in that position until 2003, when he stepped down to vice president. He considers it his job to keep the president in line. Working with Councilmember Thomas White Jr., Wheeling dedicates his free time to a youth softball team organized by J-CAP, one of the largest and most effective alcohol and substance abuse residential treatment programs in New York State. Wheeling also visits daycare centers around his area, bringing them magazines and books that can be put to use helping children to read.
JOB: For 33 years, Wheeling worked as an auto-technician at Popular Ford in Brooklyn. In 1998, however, he was forced to retire because of a medical issue. Although he hasn’t been in the working field since, Wheeling commits himself to the community because his motto is “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
PERSONAL: Sharing his love for the Jamaica Rotary Club is his wife of 25 years, Cora. His daughter, age 50, and two sons, ages 40 and 42, are also a big part of his life. Wheeling grew up in South Carolina and moved to Queens at the age of 23. When he isn’t busy fulfilling his VP duties, Wheeling enjoys watching NASCAR. His biggest hobby, however, revolves around baseball and keeping up with his two favorite teams, the Yankees and the Mets. “My favorite team was originally the Mets because I’m friends with Joe Torre,” he said. “When he went to manage the Yankees, I followed him.”
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Wheeling said his biggest challenge arose 15 years after he began working at the dealership. Because of his ability to excel in everything he did at work, Wheeling was put in charge of the new and used cars that went through the lot. “It was a good job, but it was a lot of work.”
FAVORITE MEMORY: At the young age of 20, Wheeling was chosen to play on the St. Louis Cardinals affiliated AAA Baseball Team, a Minor League team that is one step down from the Major Leagues. “This was the most exciting time of my life because it was something I always dreamed of doing,” said Wheeling. “As a matter of fact, I almost made it but I was held back with an injury. Otherwise, I had all the possibilities to do so.”
INSPIRATION: While working at the dealership, Wheeling was inspired by his service manager. “At first I thought he was mean and always picking on me, but it turned out that he respected me more than the other men because he considered me trustworthy and could count on me to do things right the first time,” he said. “It felt really good to be the lowest man on the totem pole and be the most trusted.”
