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Capt. David Wooley
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"David Wooley
met his perfect match 33 years ago. Her name was Linda.
Then, two years later, he met his perfect match again.
That's when he joined the New York City Fire Department.
Assigned to Ladder 4 in Midtown, Capt. David Wooley was
covering for someone at Engine 54 at 48th Street and Eighth
Avenue on Sept. 11. The battalion was in Tower 1 when it
fell, his daughter-in-law Jennifer Wooley said the family
was told. The 31-year FDNY veteran opted not to retire last
year, because "he loves his job," she said. He frequently
referred to his fellow firefighters as his second family. He
and his wife, Linda, have two children and one grandson. "He
really was the most remarkable man in the world," Jennifer
Wooley said. "He loved to go to work and he loved to go
home." It came as little surprise to friends and family when
Wooley decided to call his part-time wallpaper and painting
business The Perfect Match. Jennifer Wooley admires the way
he cherished his wife, Linda, the pride he took in his
children, David Jr., 31, and Stacy, 25, and how he loved his
only grandchild, Justin, 3. "He always took time to give
everyone a hug and a kiss when they come home," Jennifer
Wooley said. "The first time I saw two men kiss each other
was when I saw my husband with his father." She said Wooley
had been eagerly looking forward to his daughter's upcoming
marriage. "You know how there are the fathers who say, 'How
much and I'll write the check.' Not him," Jennifer Wooley
said. "He had to hear the band, he went to pick out the
place. He planned everything." And five weeks after the
family's first grandson was born, Jennifer Wooley had to
return to the hospital for gallbladder surgery. For two
months, Wooley took over primary child-care
responsibilities: diapering Justin, feeding Justin, rocking
Justin to sleep. "I don't know how many guys do this, but he
said, 'Thank you for giving this time with my grandson,' "
Jennifer Wooley said. "He was really the all-American man.""
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