Benjamin WheelerBenjamin Andrew Wheeler, 6, departed this life on Friday, December 14, 2012 at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Benjamin was born in New York City on September 12, 2006, a son of David Cole and Francine (Lobis) Wheeler. Ben was an irrepressibly bright and spirited boy whose love of fun and excitement at the wonders of life and the world could rarely be contained. His rush to experience life was headlong, creative and immediate. He was a devoted fan of his older brother, Nate, and the two of them together filled the house with the noise of four children. He loved the local soccer program, often running across the field long after it was actually necessary, but always smiling and laughing as he moved the ball nearly always at full tilt. He was becoming a strong swimmer and loved his lessons. Eager to learn, he couldn’t wait to get to school to see his teacher and his growing group of new first grade friends. Ben was also a member of Tiger Scout Den 6 which met at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Firehouse. Earlier in December, Ben performed at his piano recital and sitting still long enough to play one piece was an accomplishment he reveled in. He loved The Beatles, lighthouses, and the number 7 train to Sunnyside, Queens. In a conversation with Francine before school on Friday, he said, “I still want to be an architect, but I also want to be a paleontologist, because that’s what Nate is going to be and I want to do everything Nate does.”

To leave a message of remembrance, please visit www.BCBailey.com.

Donations can also be made to a fund established by the family. Send checks to the Benjamin Wheeler Fund, c/o Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.

To donate to the Oyster River Alumni Association’s fund to benefit the Wheeler family, visit http://bit.ly/WmPBvf. Donations to the fund are tax-deductible and will be dispensed in their entirety to the Wheeler family, minus PayPal transaction fees.