Matthew Rooney, grandson of Pittsburgh Steelers founder and Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Art Rooney, has died at the age of 51. His death reportedly occurred last Friday at his home in the Hamptons. While a cause of death has not been revealed, his family has scheduled a burial for this Thursday.
A spokesperson for the Steelers stated, “The Rooney Family is mourning the loss of Matthew.”
According to reporting by the New York Post, Matthew Rooney held a minority share in the football organization started by his grandfather. He sold most of his 16 percent stake in 2009.
An online obituary highlighted Matthew Rooney’s education and involvement in the arts: “Matthew attended Gwynedd Mercy Academy as a child and then attended The Hill School in Pottstown, PA, for his high school years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from New York University and his Master’s from Columbia University. Matthew received many writing awards from both universities. He was first and foremost a writer and artist, a lover of literature and passionate about ballet and opera. He was the vice chair of the Allegro Circle for the New York City Ballet and was a member of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Opera of New York.” The obituary further detailed that “Matthew spent many years living between New York and Los Angeles before finally settling down in Brooklyn Heights and his beloved ‘Belle Reve’ house in East Hampton.” It also described him as someone whose “wit, charm and love of fashion made him one of life’s last true Dandies and an authentic Bon Vivant.”
Fashion designer Joshua Kamei commented on social media about Matthew Rooney’s presence at artistic events: “I was saddened to hear about the passing of Matthew Rooney. I didn’t know him well, but he was always a kind, familiar face at the ballet — someone who had a special way of making others feel welcome and celebrated,” Kamei said.
