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Richard Rooney Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Richard Rooney
Sponsored by Bob and Nancy Rooney.
Bob and Nancy Rooney
March 10, 2025
We want to thank all the people who have written their thoughts and memories about Richard on this page. Richard was a very special son and friend. When going for his driver's license, Richard told the Registry officer to put on his seatbelt. The examiner told him that he that he would remain unbelted in case he needed to take the wheel. After that, Richard cruised around the Watertown streets and passed his driving test. We try to remember the good times.
Juli Parvani (Brescia)
March 10, 2025
Hi Rooney! I hope you are happy and free wherever you may roam. Missing you down here. Man, you´ve missed a ton! I can only imagine what kind of shenanigans you and Mike are getting into up there haha. Do me a favor? Send some good vibes or luck my way as things have been tricky lately. I´ll be baking cookies this weekend with my kids and thinking of you as I listen to White Stripes today.
Juli Parvani
March 11, 2024
Hi Rooney,
Somehow 20 years have gone by. I still don´t know how. I now work with the education department with insurance and help make sure policies are in place to help schools with grief as well as prevention of such heartbreaking events. I hope I am able to make a difference. I also hope you are able to see how truly loved and admired you were/are for your kindness, compassion and humor. I´m so glad to see the comments left help your parents... it helps us all too! Just know you are never forgotten by all that love you. Continue to rest easy my friend!
Nancy Rooney
March 10, 2024
We want to thank all of you for sharing your special memories of Richard with us. Reading your comments have helped us during these twenty years.
Bob (RAR) came up with the RRR which became "Triple R".
Richard (his mother's father) Robert (his father) Rooney.
Thanks again,
Bob and Nancy Rooney
HS
March 6, 2024
I've been waiting a long time to finally write this; 20 years seems long enough...
March 10, 2004, was a Wednesday, I don't recall much about the school day. What I remember is I had work after school that day, so I got on the bus that stops at Arlington Center. I remember getting on the bus and sitting down, the bus wasn't full, and I sat down on the seat right behind Rooney. I had known Rooney from Ottoson and although we had never been close, it was always nice to see him and talk to him at Minuteman even if it was just small talk. I never had many close friends and when I got on the bus and saw Rooney, I instinctively sat near him because he was someone I knew. Sitting behind him on the bus that day, I remember talking to him like I normally did, I wish I could recall all the details of the conversation. The memories of whatever was spoken are lost to time, likely due to the confusion and emotions I felt in the following days. What I do remember clearly is how he was when we talked. He was just Richard Rooney, always kind, always friendly, always welcoming. I remember his face when he turned around when we talked, I remember him smiling. His face showed no sign of any sort of distress or pain, he was just as he always was, just bright; his smile was as it always was; just pure. The bus got to Arlington Center, I got off, and went about my day.
I think I got off work around 6PM and walked home. The first thing I did when I got home was log onto AIM and almost immediately, I got an IM from Justin, one of Rooney's classmates from Culinary. When I read the message, it felt like everything had shattered, my mind couldn't come to terms with the fact that I had just a few hours earlier talked to someone who seemed absolutely fine and now he was gone.
Everyone deals with many tragedies in their lives but there is something different about the tragedies we experience when we're still young, naive, and hopeful. Those tragedies break us at our core and stay with us forever.
The next day at Minuteman felt overwhelmingly surreal. When Orlando had passed, I witnessed the sorrow others felt, but because I had never interacted with him, it didn't hit me the way Rooney's passing did. My mind was overcome with conflicting senses. I couldn't reconcile the inability to accept that he was gone with the confusion of trying to comprehend why he was gone. It seemed impossible for him to be gone after I had talked to him the day before, it seemed impossible that I was one of the last people he talked to before he left the world. I'm thankful that fate allowed me to see and talk to Rooney that day, so close to the end. I can never forget that memory of him, as vivid as it has ever been in 20 years.
For years, maybe a decade even, I would think of him and wonder why. I would replay that scene in my mind of him sitting in front of me, just talking to me, just being his normal self. I would replay it over and over whenever I thought of him. I would remember the emotions of the following days, just desperate to somehow make some sort of sense as to why it happened. In the years that passed I witnessed others go. It would always bring me back to Richard Rooney. Eventually as time passed, I realized the why doesn't matter. Asking why and remembering the pain was the echo of my resistance to not accepting reality. Finally accepting that I can never truly understand why he is gone never truly dulled the sense of loss.
Going back to middle school at Ottoson, what I remember of Richard Rooney is that he was a good guy. That description is not meant to minimize or simplify how or who he was. It seems too concise just to define him with those 2 words, "good guy". But that is exactly the way I feel comfortable describing him, because everyone who ever knew him knew what a kind and gentle soul he was. Rooney was someone you would meet, and you would immediately know in your heart that he was a person incapable of ever causing anyone pain. One of the kids I had known from grade school to Ottoson used to make a comment to Rooney whenever he saw him. He would say, "Richard Rooney, you're my hero!" To this day I have no idea why he would always say that or where it started, I don't recall any ill-will in the way he said, it just seemed like light-hearted teasing. I remember that whenever it happened Rooney would just smile and roll with it; even in middle school, that is how he was, just someone who was unbothered and always just kind.
The years have gone by, life has been a learning experience as it is for everyone. What I've learned is that so much just doesn't matter. We fall into these negative cycles at a young age of chasing unrealistic or superficial goals. We think we have some concept of who we want to be and how we want to be, but all we ever are, is clueless and at the mercy of the world/fate/luck. As life moves forward the shadows fall away giving us a chance to reevaluate who we are and what our value is. What time has taught me is that our accomplishments or worldly gains are meaningless in comparison to the good that comes from caring and giving love to others.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if Rooney had lived. I wonder if I would still see him around town. I wonder if we met, what we would talk about or how would we talk about the last 20 years. The only thing I never have to wonder about, or question is who he would be if he was still alive. To the core of my being, I'm confident that he would be the same as he always was, just the same kind, gentle, generous, open-hearted Richard Rooney. It brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes knowing that had he lived, he would have lived a good life, he would have lived a life where he would have given love unconditionally to anyone who needed it. He would have cared for those around him, they would have appreciated him more than he would ever truly know. That is who he was, he was the best of us. He will always be the best of us.
Juli Parvani
February 10, 2023
Hey Rooney, sorry it´s been a bit since I checked in. I don´t even know if this page is monitored anymore. It makes me feel closer to you to write though so I´ll keep doing that if it´s ok.
I´m sure you know but Mike Kolb passed away. Please make sure you meet him up there. I know he´s going to want to see you. Another hard loss for sure. Life truly is unfair. This has been such a hard year already. I miss you friend.
Juli Parvani
Juli Parvani
October 27, 2022
Hi Rooney,
You have been on my mind a lot lately so I wanted to come here and let you know. I hope you are looking down on me and guiding me along. There's been so many signs of you lately. Maybe I'm just thinking that because I want it to be true. Keep sending signs, they brighten my day.
Miss you friend.
Juli Parvani
March 10, 2021
17 years.... it feels like a lifetime and yet as if it were yesterday. I think of you often and wonder where you would be at in life if you were still here. Would you be a famous chef? Would you be married? Would you be a father? Would our kids be friends? Would they be the same ages? In all the uncertainty one thing I do know is that you and I would definitely still be friends. Thank you for being such a true friend. Life has had a lot of ups and downs lately, so if you are looking down at all... send a sign. It would be great to hear from you!
Until we meet again, rest easy my friend. Miss you.
Juli Parvani
March 10, 2021
17 years.... feels like a lifetime and as if it were just yesterday all at once. I wonder what you would be doing if you were still here. Would you be a famous chef? Would you be married? Would you be a father? Would our kids be friends? Would they be the same ages? So many unknowns. What I do know is if you were here, you and I would most definitely still be friends. I miss you. Life has been pretty crazy lately so if you are looking down at all... send a sign. It would be nice to hear from you.
Rest easy.
Juli Parvani
March 10, 2020
Well another anniversary has come and gone. I hate that it is called an anniversary because an anniversary is something to celebrate and today is not a happy day at all. I still think of you often and wonder what you would be up to if you were still here. I know I'm not alone when I say that I miss you tons. Rest easy my friend.
Megan Hayward
March 10, 2020
16 years, how, how has it already been sixteen years. There have been times when my heart hurts the most and I hope that it was some cruel mistake or something and youll walk into my cafe and Ill see your face again. But I know you were too kind for this to be the case, so I hold on to my memories and I remind myself that you have been watching out for me for 16 years and I have to hope that the universe will let me see you again some day some how and that has to be enough.
Juli Parvani
March 10, 2019
Hey Rooney,
I can't believe that it has been 15 years. I miss you, my friend. I sometimes stop to think about what you might be doing and what your life would be like if you were still with us. I hope you are happy and looking down on us all.
Love you.
Julianna Parvani
April 12, 2017
Hey Rich,
So many years have come and gone and it's taken me all this time to find any words to say. I really miss you, our talks on the bus, the cookies you used to bake for me. I always felt I could tell you anything. I really wish I could've done something.. anything to help you. You were a great friend. A friendship like yours is rare and hard to find. I know because I've yet to find a truer friend. I still miss you terribly.
Michael Robichaud
February 27, 2015
I carry your smile with me wherever I go. I will never forget it. When those that carry it smile, neither will the world forget. You are missed and yet you are always here with us.
David Edwards Edwards
June 15, 2010
It's been six years since you have been gone, and I think about you all the time. When I look back at that day i wish I had yes to you about going to play basketball. Rooney I will always remember you especially the day I cleaned up your hair for JR Prom. You were a true gem and I love you man, and you live on and in my heart forever.
Love,
David Edwards
Omar Quraishi
March 3, 2009
Rooney, I hope all is well up there, I really miss you and think about you all the time.
Ashley Rocca
November 21, 2007
Rooney,
I really need you right now. Please protect and watch over me. I miss you so much and just want to know why this happened to you. But I know you're in heaven watching down on us all. <3
Love always and forever, Ashley
p.s. Rob and Nancy, I hope you are doing well. I was wondering if you could email me a picture of Rooney so I can frame it and always remember his smile. thanks
Ashley Rocca
November 21, 2007
Rich,
I miss you so much and think about you all the time. I wish I could of helped you. Rest in peace my dear friend
Love, Ashley
October 25, 2007
Richard,
Happy Birthday! 22 years
We have many happy memories about you: your birth, birthday parties, your first word, the day you got your driver's license, and many other special milestones.
You are always in our hearts and minds.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Megan Hayward
March 11, 2007
Another year has come and gone and I still feel empty inside. Getting through yesterday was hard but getting through today will be harder. I still remember it, i walked in to school and they told me. Your always in my heart
Peace and Love
Megan
March 10, 2007
Richard
We miss you!
But, you are present in our prayers, thoughts, and hearts.
Love,
Dad and Mom
January 23, 2007
Rooney,
Please give me the strength to get through the next few months,with cameron's and your's anniversary's coming up faster than I want them to. I need to know that you are watching over me and that you are still with me. I miss you more than words can ever express. Watch over me my angel.
December 24, 2006
Rich,
Today is Christmas Eve.
We think of you and your visits to Santa, your performances as a wise man and the grinch, and your readings at church.
You enjoyed Christmas: parties, relatives and friends, food and gifts, cold weather and snow.
We miss you,
Love,
Dad and Mum
December 23, 2006
Rich,
Say a prayer for dad.
Mom
Peter Massimilla
December 1, 2006
Rich, I was just thinking about you man. Thinkin about the newbury comp. like it was yesterday. Standing across from you in the kitchen singin sublime together, Hearing the mayo story from cioppa. Laughin n kickin it. I'm still not sure why what happend happend, but I'm sure that we all miss you, Everytime I hear sublime or the white striptes I think of those times practicing with you for the comp. I wish we could relive those times, Miss ya man.
"Until we meet again"
Peter
July 29, 2006
every day that goes buy is one more that im missing u. i kno ur my angel so please keep flying by my shoulder
Ashley Rocca
December 18, 2005
Rooney, I miss you so much! You will never be forgotten by me; the memories will always stay in my heart
Megan Hayward
March 15, 2005
A poem in memory of Richard Rooney
Rest in peace
Our memories of you will never cease
Never shall you wake
A smile you would always make
The angel on my shoulder
Without you the world is colder
You are always in my heart
Never shall we part
Rest in peace
Our memories of you will never cease
Megan Hayward
March 11, 2005
Rooney, you are my angel in heavan. i can't belive it has already been a year. i know you where with us last night at the Knights of Columbus in arlington. we all heard you ring those church bells. i know your parents miss you so much. but i think that sometimes i miss you more. everyday you are in my heart and my mind i wish i knew why you had to go but i know that god had his reasons to take you. you will always have a home in my heart. i loved you forever and never forget you. to his parnets i am so greatful that you let the Minuteman community reach out to you and help you heal. 3-10-04, always remember every one is loved.
March 6, 2005
Rich,
You would have enjoyed this winter!
Snow, snow, snow, and more snow.
Snowshoes, Snowboarding,& SnowDays.
Dee
October 31, 2004
Richard, Happy Birthday!
You would have turned 19 on Oct. 25. All of us miss you.
June 9, 2004
Richard, We miss you. You brought laughter and friendship to many lives. We will always remember you.
- - unknown friend - -
April 3, 2004
Rich I knew you a little BUT WHY? why did you hafta go? first orlando now u? I dnt get it! R.I.P Orlando watch out for him and us we love you both
Colleen P
March 19, 2004
miss you so much... i dunno if you realized how many people loved you and miss you, but i'm sure you're watching us from heaven... you were so sweet...one of a kind... miss you...
juli brescia
March 15, 2004
Rooney,
You have been one of my best friends since freshman year! Even though I have known you since seventh grade I feel we really became close in high school. You were one person I could always rely on to help me through a difficult time! I'm just so sorry that you are gone and that we wont be able to go on all those dates I promised you I would go on when cheerleading was over! You know what? I.O.U. in heaven!
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SOOO MUCH!
love,
juli brescia
Courtney M
March 15, 2004
Richard, After 5 years of being in school with you i never really considered what a great kid you were. This summer when i saw you,you seemed so happy! God Bless you and whatever pain that you were going through i hope you found comfort now. Always remember Fi-Ho Days. You will be missed.
John Pelletier
March 15, 2004
Hey Rich, I never really knew you, but you were so nice to me. If only I knew time was short, mabye I could have made a difference. I wish it didn't have to end this way. You will be remembered always.
Sharaun Jordan
March 15, 2004
Man Rooney, i don't know if u knew it but i loved you sooo much. You are like a brother to me... some times my older and some times my younger. I've learned so much from you all in one term. If it wasn't for you, The cafe would have never started the year off so well. Man, and this term, ever time I went to take the trash down you had a hug for me and always gave me a helping hand. Thanks for being here! You will be missed! I love you sooo much. Fly high.
Britne Nance
March 15, 2004
Rich, we miss you man. Minuteman halls feel so empty. I'm lonely walking to first period where you always walked me on academic week. Period 1 honors Geometry.. me and you, the only seniors. Now its just me, but your still there with me in spirit. I know you are. The shop misses you so much, never forget the culinary crew... Cz UP!!... we have an angel in the kitchen, i love you, you are forever in my heart. Never forget your nutty bar comment, that was hilarious, and never forget the Jr. Prom... FUN TIMES! rich i miss you so much and i will never know why this has happened... Fly High Young Angel, rest in peace and meet me at the gates. All the love, always and forever... Britne
Mike Gerrity
March 15, 2004
Richard, you will be missed. I remember the days at Fi-Ho and you always struck me as a genuinely nice person. Thank you.
Taryn Sennott
March 14, 2004
Rich, you were a great kid! I loved being in resource with you and chico last year we had so much fun. I miss your smile and everything about you. Minuteman will never be the same...You'll be in our hearts and minds forever! I wish you had only known how much you ment to everyone...
Brittany
March 14, 2004
Richard, You where one of a kind and will be missed by many. I will miss your smile and your cheer. You are loved.
Leslie Rae
March 14, 2004
Richie, You were a great person. You have no idea how many people will miss you. You are greatly loved and will be grealty missed by everyone. God Bless You! Only the good die young, and You dont know wut u got til' its gone!
K
March 13, 2004
~if only u knew how much you mean to us I wish it didn't have to End Like This~ You are missed by many~
laurel
March 13, 2004
rich i didnt kno you that well but when ever i talked to you, you were so nice to me. God Bless. may you rest in peace
Samantha S. Minuteman Regional High School
March 13, 2004
If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to Heaven,
And take you home again.
We will ALWAYS miss you.
Andrea R Minuteman high school
March 13, 2004
We will always miss your contagious smile. I dont think you realized how much we all really cared.Watch over us.My thoughts and prayers are with your family.WE WILL MISS YOU ALWAYS!
Lori and Brian Perry
March 13, 2004
God bless you, Richard. May you be at peace. You were a wonderful young man, who is loved by so many and will be miss so dearly. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with you and your parents now and always.
mary
March 13, 2004
GOD BLESS YOU, RICH,YOUR PAIN WHATEVER IT WAS IS OVER NOW
GOD BLESS YOUR PARENTS THEY NEED THE STRENGTH NOW
Susan Cyr
March 13, 2004
Your spirit, smile and charism will shine in our hearts and minds forever.God Bless You
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