Timothy "Frank" Francis Dowling

Timothy Francis Dowling, also known as Frank, of Hockessin, Delaware passed away peacefully just past midnight on Friday May 1st, only 13 days shy of his 88th birthday. He loved celebrating birthdays with family, especially when it came to singing Happy Birthday. 

Frank was a loving and dedicated father, grandfather, and husband. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Margaret Holohan Dowling; daughter Julia Dowling Dunn and husband Jim Dunn; daughter Kathleen Dowling Caccamo and husband Natale Caccamo; son Timothy Francis Dowling and wife Rebecca Dowling; granddaughters Francesca and Giovanna Caccamo; sisters in law Iris Holohan and Dolores Dowling, and a large network of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents, and the siblings he adored: Nora, Mary, Julia, Elizabeth, Patrick, and Ann Marie. 

Frankie was born in NYC in 1938, the youngest son of 7 children, to Timothy Francis Dowling and Julia Collins Dowling. When the family moved to Flushing, Queens after the death of his mother, Frankie met Margaret “Peg” Holohan at St. Michaels Elementary School. He became a constant visitor at the Holohan house on Bowne Street. Frankie attended Flushing High School and then joined the Navy, where he served on the USS Saratoga as an Aircraft Safety Engineer. He completed 2 Mediterranean tours, including the Lebanese Crisis of ‘58. Frankie worked many odd jobs when he returned home, driving delivery trucks and working at a butcher shop before joining the NYPD as a patrolman working in Midtown Manhattan. 

In 1961, he married his childhood sweetheart Peggy Holohan and started a family in Garden City Park, NY. He felt the luck of the Irish when his name came up on the fireman’s list and he joined the FDNY. He began serving the city he loved so much at Engine 14 in Manhattan. He loved his job and every day he left for work, he told his family he was “Off to save lives and protect property!” Frank played bagpipes for FDNY's Emerald Society Pipe Band in the early years and even performed with them on the Ed Sullivan Show. He loved marching up Fifth Avenue on St. Patrick's Day as well as listening to and playing music. 

In the early 70’s, Frank was promoted to Lieutenant and stationed at Engine Co. 96 in the South Bronx, a community particularly plagued by house fires. It was here that he was awarded an American Legion Medal of Honor for a rescue made during one of those fires. He went on to serve at Engine Co. 295 in Whitestone, Queens, where he was promoted to Captain, returning to his beloved Manhattan at Engine Co. 6. He served as Captain there until the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, when he sustained injuries that forced him to retire. 

As a Medal Recipient, Frank supported the work of FF Joseph Rodriguez from E96-L54 and was co-founder and 1st VP of the FDNY Honor Legion, an official fraternal organization of the FDNY, dedicated to assisting the families of fallen members. Captain Dowling continued that work throughout his career. In the days following 9/11, the long retired and dedicated former captain of Engine 6 rejoined his fellow firefighters at Ground Zero to assist in the search and rescue efforts of the 343 fellow firefighters, many of whom he had served next to or trained. He stayed at Engine 6 for weeks to ensure that his guys had all that they needed.

During his retirement, Frank and Peggy traveled around the USA and Europe, making several trips to their beloved Ireland and connecting with their vast extended family in Co. Limerick and Tipperary. Once their granddaughters arrived, they made the move to Hockessin, Delaware, so they could be the Grandest of Grandparents. He continued to serve the communities he lived in. Frank and Peggy joined SAGES at their new Parish, St. Mary of the Assumption. Frank loved planning the trips to NYC Broadway Shows as well as cooking for the group’s monthly lunches. Frank was a Knight of Columbus and an usher, and he took pride in his roles. 

Frank’s family are forever grateful to the Doctors, Nurses, Aides and Staff at Jenners Pond Memory Care and Willow Tree Hospice for their tender loving care, humor and grace. 

He will be truly missed by all who were lucky enough to spend time with him, whether it was on the job or at a social gathering. He was a man of service and took pride in being the coordinator of the well run event or the first one on the dance floor.  

Visitation with the family will be from 12:30PM until 2:00PM with a Funeral Mass at 2:00PM on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, Delaware.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to: 
FDNY Honor Legion*, 79 Rita Drive, East Meadow, NY 11554 
Please note in memory of Captain TF Dowling.

*The Honor Legion of the Fire Department of the City of New York is a not for profit 501 3c corporation. All donations are fully tax deductible. The organization sponsors events and helps firefighters and their families when they are in need. It functions on the generosity of its contributors. All officers and members of the Honor Legion are volunteers, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the cost of running events.

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