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A guarding presence in Babylon Village Schools
For 18 of the 21 years Whitehead has served as a Suffolk County school crossing guard, he has stood at this corner. Come rain, sleet, snow, or sun, Whitehead is there every morning at 7:00 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. and then again every afternoon at 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The best part of the job - "the children, definitely the children" says Whitehead. The weather doesn't bother him much, except for the heat. "The heat is tough," he said. "The weather is something you just accept. There is nothing you can do about it." In 1986, Whitehead retired from his position as superintendent of postal operations for the Babylon Post Office. That was on a Friday. The following Tuesday, he began his second career as a school crossing guard. "I'm not one to sit home," he said. "I'll retire when I can't stand up anymore." That's a good thing for the children and parents who rely upon Whitehead's professionalism to keep the traffic and the children moving in a steady flow. It's an art and a science to Whitehead, who says it's all a matter of routine. Whitehead takes his responsibility very seriously. "The thought of an accident always runs through my mind," he said, "particularly because I have the little ones. Kids can dart around." Public safety is something in Whitehead's blood, it would seem. From 1955 to 1986, he served as a volunteer auxiliary police officer for Babylon Village. And up until about seven years ago, he served as the security guard and parking attendant for St. Joseph's Church in Babylon. During the summer months, Whitehead can be found safeguarding children who attend summer school. He has worked as a school crossing guard out of the First Police Precinct almost every summer. He does, however, find time for his favorite hobby - model building. Recently, he completed a model ship of the U.S.S. Constitution. Years ago, when his grandchildren were younger, he built doll houses. He also has a collection of 850 metal soldiers, which he forged and hand painted. "I replicated the Battle of Waterloo," said Whitehead.
The agile and adept Whitehead, who turns 80 this year, admits he likes to work. Maybe loving what he does so much is one reason why he never considers work a chore and why retirement is far off in the distance.
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