SCC teacher James Wheeler passed away in 2017.
By Dc. Tom Picciano
Contributing writer
One of the “Saints” on the faculty of Seton Catholic Central in Binghamton has been remembered years after his death with the dedication of a portrait.
James Wheeler was a music teacher who retired in 2016 and died the following year.
Not long after that, students in an art class were asked to create Wheeler’s image on canvas. One of those paintings was by Alina Galyon who graduated in 2018. It was found a couple of years ago in the back of the art room. Faculty and staff took some time to decide how to make use of it.
On All Saints Day, the framed portrait was unveiled at the entrance to the gymnasium. That’s where Wheeler led the stage band in hundreds of performances including at basketball games.
” It’s a great and lasting tribute to one of our all-time great saints,” said George Phillips, a Social Studies and Religion Teacher at SCC.
Phillips, who also attended the school, recalls Wheeler’s direction of the student musicians from many years ago.
“I was certainly there for the excitement of the stage band as a student and watching my older brothers,” he said. “It was really iconic in my mind. Everyone loved going to those games and hearing the music.”
Phillips called Wheeler a “kind man, a humble man who loved his students. (He) loved helping them develop their gift for music. They delivered magnificent, really magnificent performances at these games and school concerts.”
“He had a way of meeting you where you are at,” Phillips said. “support you in a kind of gentle kind way reaching out. And he was just there always present.”
“He definitely epitomized the faith of a Christian man,” he added, “he was a great musician, a great teacher but he was a man of great character you would want. A reflection of Christ.”
Phillips and others have a memorial t-shirt of the music teacher. His nickname, “Wheels” is printed on front, along with a picture of him playing a guitar in the 1970s.
“I asked him late in his career, ‘do you like still playing?’ and he held up his hands. And his hands were crippled by arthritis, and I could see without him saying anything that he couldn’t play anymore,” Phillips said.
“He gave everything he could to his students and to his trade. But he still was able to get the message through without playing and explaining to them how to make music,” he said.
“His spirit has continued on and stage band has continued on since his passing,” said Phillips.
The artist who painted the portrait is now in graduate school and was unable to attend the unveiling.
Wheeler’s widow, son, brother and sister-in-law were present, as were several students from the stage band over the years.
The current student musicians played one of “Wheel’s” favorites: “Don’t Stop Believing.” as well as the Alma Mater at the end of the dedication ceremony.
