Matthew Rooney, the grandson of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr., died at the age of 51 at his home in the Hamptons last Friday, August 15. The team confirmed his passing to the New York Post on Thursday, August 21.
A spokesperson for the Steelers said, “The Rooney Family is mourning the loss of Matthew.”
Rooney’s cause of death was not made public as of Thursday. He was a Pennsylvania native and the son of JoAnn Wallace Rooney and John J. Rooney. John J. Rooney previously served as a minority owner with a 16 percent stake until sharing it in 2009.
According to his family’s obituary, Matthew held a Bachelor of Arts from New York University and a Master’s degree from Columbia University. He was described as a writer, artist, and admirer of ballet and opera.
The obituary states, “Matthew’s wit, charm and love of fashion made him one of life’s last true Dandies and an authentic Bon Vivant.”
A funeral mass is scheduled for Thursday morning with a private burial to follow.
Art Rooney Sr., who established the Steelers in 1933, owned the franchise during its first four Super Bowl wins. He was succeeded by his late son Dan Rooney from 1988 to 2016. The current majority owner is Art Rooney II.
