Garret J. Rooney remembered

“The words that always come to mind are tenacious, passionate and honest – he was someone who never gave up,” Jim Moriarty said of his friend of 40 years, Garret J. Rooney. “He had the ability to communicate and have a real dialogue with people, whether it was with a laborer cleaning the streets or an official during budget issues.”

Born in the Bronx, Rooney, a longtime Long Beach resident, venerated former chief of the Long Beach Fire Department and assistant city manager, passed away on Sunday Dec. 12, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 68.  

Rooney is survived by his wife, Linda, and seven children, Rosemarie, Garret, Kevin, Nicholas, MaryRose, Robert and Peter. He is also survived by his sister, Roseann (Vincent) Donnelly, his brother, Kevin, and grandchildren and nephews.

His late son, Michael Scott, predeceased him.

Hundreds attended his wake at Macken Mortuary in Island Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he was remembered as a devoted father and husband. A funeral mass will be held at St. Ignatius Martyr Church on Thursday at 10 a.m., followed by an internment at Calverton National Cemetery.

Local officials, friends and family remembered Rooney as a humble individual with a big personality, a take-charge person who was full of life. His impact on city government and his role as a leader in the community, his colleagues said, was great and his absence will be felt in the years to come.

“Long Beach has lost one if its great public servants, and I have lost my dearest friend,” said Moriarty, a former city councilman and the Long Beach Republican chairman. “He brought energy, keen intelligence and tenacity to every job he undertook. Being Garret’s friend was always exciting, fresh and interesting. I have never met anyone with a stronger sense of compassion, fairness and loyalty. He was a true friend.”

A former U.S. Marine, Rooney served as chief of the Long Beach Fire Department from 1975-1981, leading one of Long Island’s busiest fire departments. He also served as chairman of the 2nd Battalion Fire District and was a member of the Nassau County Fire Commission. His colleagues recalled a strong leader who led the department through its most tumultuous era, when the city averaged 50 working fires a year. He was involved with numerous rescues, including one in which he pulled a woman from an apartment fire.

“He was a chief when we really had fires, when Long Beach was burning, and he was famous for dealing with fires down here,” said Fire Chief Scott Kemins.

Moriarty, who was elected chief shortly after Rooney’s term ended, had grown close with him during their time in the department. He explained that it was during this time that Rooney’s interest in city government and community groups began to blossom.

“Garret was chief during a period before Long Beach underwent its renaissance,” Moriarty said. “That was really one of the busiest times in the history of the fire department because the city had many old dilapidated buildings. The city was in a bad way during the mid-’70s and early ’80s. But I think it exposed him to many different aspects of the community and many people.”

Rooney had worked as a financial consultant and stockbroker throughout his professional life, and was active in

community affairs for many years, his colleagues said.

He served as president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 17 for two years and was co-chairman of the Irish Day Parade and festival for five years.

“He really embodied the Hibernian motto of friendship, unity and Christian charity,” said friend and past AOH Division President Andy Healey. “He will be sorely missed by all of the brothers at Division 17.”

Rooney was a former first vice president of the Long Beach Civil Service Employees Union and also served on the Board of Trustees at the Long Beach Medical Center.

He remained active over the years, often in a leadership role, in many organizations, including the Long Beach Republican Committee, the Naval Academy Parents Club of Long Island, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and Long Beach Lions Club, among others.

“He was very active in town, and such a great family guy,” said City Council Vice President Mona Goodman. “He was the most loyal person and friend ever. He could be very tough and hard but his heart was always in the community. He had a great rapport with everybody in City Hall.”

In 2008, Rooney was hired as assistant city manager under current City Manager Charles Theofan. The two worked together during a previous term beginning in 2004.

“I do not believe you could ever find a more dedicated public servant; he literally took this to be a 24-hour job,” Theofan said.  “He was remarkably charismatic and he had great leadership ability. He had a way of walking into a room and you can clearly see that he could take charge. But he was loved and respected because he was always very fair.”

He assisted in nearly every facet of general administration, Theofan said. During major snowstorms, Theofan said Rooney played a “hands on” role in the supervision of snow pick-up and always tried to make the city a better place to live.

City Councilman John McLaughlin recalled Rooney as a person who always pushed to hire local kids and instilled a sense of pride. He regularly bragged about his children, who attended prestigious universities and military academies, but was never one to take credit for the job he did, McLaughlin said.

“Beneath that gruff exterior there was a real softy,” he said. “You would never hear him take credit for things. He was a real loyal guy and a good friend, very honest and down-to-earth.”

Rooney left an indelible mark on city hall and in the community, McLaughlin said, adding that his death was a great loss not just to his friends and family but also to the city.

Rooney retired in the fall, after he was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. 

“When he realized he was ill and going for surgery, he met with all of the departments and said, ‘I’m going to be out for a while, I’m going to need you to step up,’” said Goodman, “and they did because he was very well-respected.”

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