Paul D. Rooney ’61

Paul D. Rooney ’61 died in Florida on June 29, 2023. He sailed on tankers, break-bulk cargo, and containerships throughout his long career. Prior to attending MMA, he served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard; three and a half years aboard the CG cutter Acushnet out of Portland, Maine. On the Acushnet, he was involved in numerous rescue attempts including the passenger liner Andrea Doria, and in the sprint and summer of 1957 made the International Ice Patrol based in Newfoundland and the Grand Banks.
Upon graduating from MMA, he started his career sailing on tankers for American Trading & Production Company. After more than a year he then started sailing on dry cargo ships with Masters, Mates and Pilots. For the next five years he sailed “off the board” through the New York union hall on numerous ships to all parts of the globe with various companies. In 1967 he started sailing with Farrell Lines as a second mate and chief mate, and then Master in 1976. He sailed with Farrell Lines for seventeen years. Due to consolidation in the industry, as ships were sold he switched to US Lines for five years and finally spent the last ten years of his career with Sea Land sailing on the west coast to the far east, retiring in 1997. In addition to more than fifty years as a member of MM&P he was also a longtime member of the Council of American Master Mariners. His wife of 42 years, Cecelia, predeceased him. He leaves his daughters Michelle and Laura, and grandchildren Darby and Jake Brown.