[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF DAVID WOOLLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2021

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I rise 
today to mourn and recognize the passing of a bastion of the town of 
Old Lyme, Connecticut and a devoted family man, Mr. Dave Woolley. After 
living a rich life not with material possessions, but rather with 
friendship and compassion for all, Dave passed away peacefully on 
January 30, 2021.
  Born and raised in Longmeadow, Massachusetts to Doris and Harry 
Woolley, he moved on from the state shortly after graduating from 
University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a bachelor's in business 
administration in 1955.
  After enlisting in the Navy and honorably serving his nation, we in 
Connecticut became blessed with his giving nature when he began a new 
chapter in his life in Hartford, Connecticut. Employing his degree from 
UMass Amherst, David first started as a bank officer with Hartford 
National Bank & Trust Co. His intelligence and judgment made him a 
success administering business loans within the community first in 
Hartford and then to a new position at the Plainfield Bank & Trust Co. 
in eastern Connecticut and then Washington Trust in Westerly, Rhode 
Island. He retired in 2009.
  While he was rightfully proud of his work--as demonstrated by more 
than 52 years of dedication to his profession--it was never meant to be 
his full purpose in life. Always the delightful extrovert, he employed 
his time outside of the job to establish the strongest of ties in his 
local community--which to Dave also meant expanding family ties. He 
moved permanently to his Old Lyme home in 1989 where he formed a loving 
connection to his constant friend and companion, Beverly Curry. The two 
of them together in this idyllic shoreline town were a constant 
presence in civic, political and charitable events. As a candidate for 
Congress, I was lucky enough to benefit from their popularity and 
community connections when they tirelessly supported my candidacy year 
in and year out.
  Throughout and prior to his permanent residence in Old Lyme, David 
was heavily involved in numerous organizations throughout the region 
and state. Most notably, he served 11 years as a board member to the 
Connecticut Police Academy; 20 years as an affiliate of then State 
Chairman for the American Heart Association of Connecticut; and more 
than 45 years as a member across five different chapters in the Rotary 
Club. Ending his tenure as a member of the Niantic Rotary, it should 
not go without mentioning his service as President of two of the Clubs, 
partially leading him to earn the Paul Harris Award--the highest 
accolade presented by the Rotary Club.
  Always a force of altruism, Dave's commitment to creating a stronger 
community truly took off once he connected his financial aptitude with 
the township of Old Lyme. Beginning in 1994, Dave joined a local party 
organization and was elected shortly thereafter to the Board of Finance 
in 1995. He served in the capacity as a finance specialist, helping to 
run the budgets for the town's essential services. His leadership in 
the town was clear and long lasting as he was also elected Chairman to 
the same local party in 2002. Dave led and constructed a strong party 
infrastructure that would become this fundamental part of the 
community, establishing hallmark fundraisers and further devoting his 
tenure to expanding the locality's electorate. He served in these roles 
until his latest days, staying active even after fully stepping down 
from leadership positions in 2019.
  Having dedicated a life of spreading faith in the most local ties, 
the strength of Dave's interest in family and friends could not be 
emphasized enough. Dave was an incredible listener and always made time 
for people, making him destined from the start to bring a brand of 
dignity to his community and by extension, his family. His memory 
continues on through a long list of individuals: his partner Beverly; 
son and daughter-in-law Michael and Patricia Woolley and grandchildren 
Katherine and Alexander; stepchildren Laurie, James, David, Steven and 
their families; as well as his sister and brother-in-law Patricia and 
Michael Cronin.
  Madam Speaker, it is an honor to represent constituents as honorable 
and impactful as David. While we all mourn his loss, we can at least 
find solace that his story, memory and purpose lives on through 
countless others. I ask that the entire House join me in recognizing 
the life of David Bronson Woolley, also never forgetting the importance 
of building our connections with others.

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