James P. Rooney

At age 78, and in the company of loving family members, James Patrick Rooney, passed away on the afternoon of August 18, at Allegheny General Hospital. His last hours there were marked by the levels of courage and dignity he maintained throughout long months of treatment for a particularly aggressive form of bone cancer. Remaining behind to mourn his loss are his devoted wife, Susan McDevitt Rooney; and children, Myles (Margot) Rooney of Pittsburgh, John (Zoe) Rooney of Philadelphia, and Kate (Stuart) Thomson of Washington, DC; and grandchildren Malcolm, Duncan, Johnny, and Peter Rooney and Jack and Eve Thomson; he is also survived by sisters, Anne Martone of Washington, DC, Eileen (Bill) Stewart, Mary Margaret (the late Jimmy) Coyne, Kathy (Ray) Sokolowski; and brothers, Tim (Maryann) Rooney and Tom (Judee) Rooney, all of Pittsburgh. Born to Vincent and Anne Rooney, Jamie's first life experiences tracked closely to a path familiar to North Side youngsters of his era, early education, spiritual guidance and sports opportunities offered by his home parish, high school years at North Catholic, then, like his brothers, commuting to classes at Duquesne University while also working full time during all of his college years. He was awarded a BA in English and a MA in Education from Duquesne in 1968. His first jobs in his field, classroom teaching at South Catholic and Quaker Valley High Schools, established an employment template that would hold firm throughout much of his working life, namely that all of his positions would directly involve or be closely allied with the concept of public service. That was certainly true when, leaving teaching in the late 1970s, he joined the staff of Ketchum Inc., a Pittsburgh-based provider of fundraising leadership for understaffed nonprofit organizations across the country. In Jamie's case, that meant long stays, sometimes spanning months, in New England communities engaged in asset-building campaigns of various types. He remained on the road with Ketchum until called home by newly elected U.S. Congressman Bill Coyne in 1980. Bill's offer, immediately accepted, was to serve as District Director of the new Congressman's Pittsburgh office, a position Jamie held for the full 22 years of Bill's congressional career. Now in the role of private consultant, Jamie offered his services in support of the same range of initiatives he championed as a federal employee and worked in that capacity until becoming ill. Those were Jamie Rooney's day jobs, and he performed them with skill, discipline and distinction. But he was at least as widely known for his contributions to the growth of the sport of rugby in our region. Not many of his family were even aware of the game when Jamie joined the Pittsburgh Harlequins as a player in 1973, well into an era when America's interpretation of its rules leaned heavily toward the side lacking possession of the ball. But no matter. There he was for the next dozen years or so, guiding the Quins' offensive flow from his key flyhalf position. He just loved being on the pitch, to the point that even while still playing, he read all of the officiating manuals and was soon extending his season by adding a referee's whistle to his kit. Soon the hobby overcame the initial lure and Jamie stayed with officiating until his last game assignment in 2015, three decades or so since he had last played. By then, changes in the game he helped promote became more evident. The sport was routinely offered in club form at the high school level. Rules regarding ball advancement and possession were liberalized. Developing their own fan base, women were playing competitively at several levels. And seven-a-side rugby ballooned in popularity. In all those years after he started, a lot had turned out well, including the funding and construction of Founders Field, a multi-purpose facility that doubles as the Quins' home pitch while also hosting USA Rugby events at the regional and national level. Both at work and at play then, Jamie's presence left its mark. But it is in his role as a family member, immediate and extended, that resonates most vividly as this week's events grow close. Having groomed at least two generations of pickers capable of succeeding him, he was the tribe troubadour; with Susie, he was our best dancer and among the quickest to laugh and certainly to weep. And in a family where faith matters, his and Susie's mattered a lot. To the great benefit of the rest of us, Jamie Rooney recorded a lifetime of doing much more than just showing up. We've all only begun to miss him.Friends received Monday, August 22nd from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 pm at SIMONS FUNERAL HOME, 7720 Perry Highway, www.simonsfuneralhome.com. A Mass of Christian Burial on will be held on Tuesday, 10:00 am, at Saint Peter Catholic Church, 720 Arch St., Friends please meet at church. In lieu of the flowers, the family suggests donations to the Pittsburgh Harlequins Youth Rugby Program, pittsburghharlequins.org/community-support/donate/.