Herbert Thomas St. Omer Woolley's Obituary
Herbert Thomas St. Omer Woolley, a gifted trial attorney and retired U.S. Navy Commander, died on July 14, 2026 in Honolulu, HI, after a brief illness. Commander Woolley, who was 95 years old, was a longtime resident of Maunawili, HI.
He was born in Los Angeles, CA, on Dec. 24, 1930, the son of a British Royal Navy Commander who organized the training of frogmen in World War II. Commander Woolley graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, going on to work in the Polaris Program developing the nation’s nuclear submarine ballistic missile capabilities and later serving in the Navy JAG Corps after obtaining his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Commander Woolley served in the Navy for over twenty years until he retired with the rank of Commander, having received the Vietnam Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal (with bronze star). After leaving the Navy, Commander Woolley moved to Honolulu where he worked as a prosecutor and later in private practice. He was honest, caring, and lived his life to its fullest. He maintained his sense of humor, his love for animals, as well as his athleticism until the very end.
Commander Woolley is survived by his loving wife of more than 34 years, Jia Li Woolley, and their children Monica Limeng Woolley, and Anthony Dylan Litao Woolley. He is also survived by the children he shared with his late wife, Jane Woolley: Sabra Jean Woolley, Jonathan Michael Woolley, Elizabeth Clare Clamme, and Juliette St. Omer Hall. Commander Woolley is further survived by his child Vilia Bouilly, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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