North Massapequa, New York
Vacuuming the Yard
David Wiswall was a nice, easygoing guy, but he could get very excited about a patch of lush green grass.
"When he wasn't out playing golf, he was out in the yard," said his wife, Pat Wiswall. "He was just a fanatic about his lawn."
One time when the Wiswalls were getting ready for a party at their house in North Massapequa, on Long Island, their son, Keith, looked out the window and saw his father vacuuming the lawn. Berries from a tree on a neighbor's yard had been falling onto the grass.
"Being married to him so many years, I understood," Pat Wiswall said. "He liked things a certain way."
Recently, with their two children grown and out of the house, the Wiswalls had been making the most of their empty nest. They played a lot of golf, both on Long Island and in North Carolina, and went out to dinner often with close friends, most of them people David Wiswall had known since grammar school.
Mr. Wiswall, a senior vice president at Aon Insurance in the World Trade Center, was 54. He and Pat were looking forward to his retiring in about six years so they could move down to North Carolina, where they planned to play even more golf.
"We were enjoying it so much," Ms. Wiswall said. "Just the fact that we were free to go out and do things. It's just another nice stage of life."
Hi David, I am Terrance`s (Murchie your nephew) wife. I was unfortunate to not meet you but went to your memorial today. RIP you sounded like and you are a hero.
Eileen Murchie
September 24, 2025 | Family
Pat: Donna texted you today and you answered back. Happy to see things are well with you and your family. Ai this time of the year we remember You and David and the good times we had as a "soccer family" watching games and traveling around. When night comes we say our prayers and have always included you all. May God continue to hold you in the palm of his hand. Ken Cynar
Kenneth Cynar
September 12, 2024
As I'm sure you know Wiswall is a relatively uncommon name and that we are all, in often distant ways, related. I often look in a variety of places to see if there is a Wiswall - sort of a scavenger hunt. Some years ago I looked to see if any of those distant relatives lost their life on 9/11. I was so sorry to see his name.
I have a fairly extensive Wiswall genealogy going back to the early 1600's in this country and earlier in England. but I could not find David in it. I'm sure...
Irving Wiswall
September 12, 2021 | McMinnville, OR | Family
I always remember and looked forward to the moments Dave and I spoke on the sideline of our boys soccer games. For what ever reason we gravitated to each other and distanced ourselves from the others and to the tensions of those soccer games! What a wonderful friend. God Bless!
Joe Stephan
September 11, 2021 | Friend
When I was visiting my grandmother (who lived on Wexford Terrace or 87th drive as it was called in the 1980's) I used to play with the children who lived across the street. When I recently saw a list of all the victims of 911, I saw the name David Wiswall. He was one of the children. While reading his obit, I discovered he lived in Massapequa (I lived in Massapequa Park, and now live in N.C.) My sympathy goes out to his family.
Holly Waite-Schwartz
September 11, 2021 | Leland, NC | Neighbor
Dear Pat and Family,
Hello Pat, I know it's been forever and I have never written before but non the less I do think of you and your family's loss often.
I just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers always.
You have a Beautiful Family!!!
Love Tina
Tina Eletto
September 12, 2018 | Mount Sinai, NY
My wife and I were recently at the 9/11 memorial and happened to take a picture near the name of your husband. I was led to look up his name and discovered we have some things in common. We love North Carolina (we live here near Pinehurst ), I enjoy golf, and my wife has the same passion for her lawn. The vacuum will probably be her next yard tool purchase. God bless you and yours.
Chalmas STEWART
September 25, 2017 | Fayetteville, NC
Never met Mr. Wiswall but RIP fellow Long Islander! Just visiting the memorial for the first time
Dionica Shepherd
January 17, 2016
Thinking of you on this day so many years later.....
September 11, 2015
