10/30/2022
Dear Colleagues,
I am sad to share that John J. “Jack” Rooney, ’46, psychology professor at La Salle University for more than 6 decades, has died. Dr. Rooney was born on March 19, 1923, and passed peacefully on October 24, 2022, at the age of 99. Dr. Rooney was the beloved husband of the late Marion (nee McGlinn). He was Father of John J., the late Marian Rooney (Keith), and the late Mary Theresa Lynch (Vincent). Dr. Rooney was Grandfather of Caitlin Rooney, Jonathan Lynch (Victoria), Benjamin Lynch, and Daniel Lynch and Great Grandfather of Nolan Lynch and Connor Lynch. He was Step Grandfather of Cameron Fiske (Nikki) and Trevor Fiske (Melissa) and Great Step Grandfather of Madison Fiske. He was brother of the late Gerald Rooney.
Dr. Rooney grew up near 20th Street and Lehigh Avenue, in the shadow of Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium, home of the Athletics. His father would charge spectators a couple pennies for access to the rooftop of their home to watch Athletics’ games. Consequently, Dr. Rooney loved baseball. He eventually published a book, Bleachers in the Bedroom: The Swampoodle Irish and Connie Mack.
Before he became a professor at La Salle, he was a student there. Dr. Rooney enrolled in 1940 at the age of 17, partly because he was unable to secure full-time employment in a factory that had a minimum hiring age of 18. He majored in chemistry. Like many of our current students, Dr. Rooney kept odd jobs during winter and summer breaks to finance his education at La Salle.
Service in the U.S. Navy as an aviation cadet during World War II interrupted his studies. His military service inspired his interest in psychology. Dr. Rooney returned to La Salle after the war and graduated in 1946. He initially taught chemistry but moved into the psychology department in 1948, while earning his master’s and doctoral degrees at Temple University. Dr. Rooney loved La Salle. He never even considered teaching anywhere else.
At La Salle, Dr. Rooney chaired the Department of Psychology twice and served as president of the Faculty Senate. In 2009, Dr. Rooney received the John J. Finley, ’24, Award from La Salle University’s Alumni Association. The Finley Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding service to La Salle or the Alumni Association.
Dr. Rooney helped launch La Salle University’s graduate program in pastoral counseling (PAC) in the summer of 1979, a joint effort of the Religion and Psychology Departments. The program was intended for students seeking “education and training in counseling that is informed by a sensitive understanding of the faith orientation in people’s lives.” In 1980, he helped develop concentrations in psychological counseling and marriage and family therapy. In the fall of 1987, Dr. Rooney helped the Psychology Department add a graduate program in “Human Services Psychology (HSP)” and served as its director. The program’s goal was to help students acquire the knowledge and skills required for competence in counseling, clinical practice, and related areas of applied psychology. In anticipation of the implementation of licensure for professional counselors and marriage and family therapists in Pennsylvania, Dr. Rooney changed the title of the HSP program to “Clinical Counseling Psychology (CCP)” in 1996. Dr. Rooney served as the director of this program until he retired. At the time he retired, he was still very energetic and could be seen sprinting up and down the Wister Hall staircase to stay fit. Dr. Rooney was also active in various psychological professional societies over the years and authored numerous articles and books.
The date and time of the services have not been finalized. Once they have been set, they will be posted at http://www.jacobfruth.com/obituary/john-rooney-iii-phd.
