DENNIS ROONEY

ROONEY-- Dennis D., aged 82, died peacefully at home in Delray Beach, FL, on February 19. An eloquent and mellifluous voice familiar to generations of classical music lovers, Dennis made his mark in broadcasting, recorded sound production, criticism, and independent scholarship over a six-decade career. He served Minnesota Public Radio in a variety of roles, most enduringly as inaugural presenter of live Minnesota Orchestra broadcasts from their inception in 1971 until he moved to New York City in 1984. He also produced a range of new releases and radio broadcasts during those years, and presented broadcasts of the annual Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. His professional focus in his New York years was meticulously assembling archival audio reissues, in particular the Masterworks Hertiage series at Sony. A relationship with United Kingdom classical music journal The Strad produced dozens of concert and recording reviews over almost four decades, from the mid-1980s until 2023. In 1996 he became active in the Association for Recorded Sound Collections, and quickly became a bulwark of that organization. ARSC awarded Dennis its Award For Distinguished Service to Historical Recordings in 2022. Dennis took pride in his narration work, and contributed over 100 titles to the Library of Congress' Talking Books series for the blind and physically handicapped. He was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Virginia Rooney, and is survived by his loving wife Jacqueline Jones, siblings Ellen Kelly, Rory (Becky) Rooney and Patrick (Jody) Rooney, and his loving nieces and nephews. A private service will be held at a later date.