Algie F. “Buddy” Wheatley, Jr., 58, of New Bedford passed away Tuesday August 8, 2023 after a brief illness. He was the husband of Andrea Rose-Wheatley.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Algie F. and Diana R. (Mendes) Wheatley, he lived in New Bedford all of his life. He was a graduate of New Bedford High School and attended Becker College.
Buddy was formerly employed as a substitute teacher at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Ranked number 15 out of the top 50 basketball players from New Bedford High School, Buddy’s love of the game was only rivaled by his love for his family. He used his passion for basketball as a way to mentor local youth for more than three decades. He coached at a variety of basketball camps, school teams, and offered his advice and pointers to anyone he encountered with a basketball. He had an innate ability to bring out the confidence in any and all skill levels because he believed in each individual, and helped them to believe in themselves even more. He took great pride in holding all he encountered to a higher level than most and not accepting anything less from them or from himself.
For those he didn’t connect with on the court, he could always figure out how to reach them where they were at, and would always find a way to connect with them to unlock their full potential in anything. He supported all of his children’s individual passions, by forming relationships and lifelong connections with all of his kids’ friends and families, inevitably making them all extended members of his already large and loving family. He was everybody’s “Uncle Buddy”.
He is survived by his wife Andrea; his children, Marcel Gonsalves and his wife Jennifer Casey, Bryant Capello and his wife Lisa Ortiz Capello, Jordan Rose-Wheatley, Alanee Rose-Wheatley, and Tanner Rosa; his siblings, Doreen Mendes, Jeffrey Mendes, Curtis Wheatley, Joseph Wheatley, and Jeff McCoy; three grandchildren, Mia Gonsalves, Omari Gonsalves, and Elijah Capello; his brother-in-law, Steven Burgo; and many nieces, nephews, and Godchildren.
He was the brother of the late Maria “Tynee” Mendes, Shelley Mendes, and Darlene “Skeet” Gonsalves.
His Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday August 15th at 10 AM at the International Church of the Nazarene, 286 Pleasant St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Monday August 14th from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.