John F. Rooney

Marstons Mills - Mr. John F. Rooney, Jr., retired chief of the Waltham Police Department, died Monday, February 18, 2008 at the Mary McCarthy Hospice House in East Sandwich following a five month battle with cancer. He was 80 years old. Born in Waltham, the only child of the late John F. and Anastasia (Connors) Rooney, Chief Rooney had been a lifelong resident before moving to Marstons Mills nineteen years ago. He was a 1945 graduate of Waltham High School and after that served with the United States Army. Chief Rooney began his career with the Waltham Police Department in 1951 as a reserve officer and was appointed to the permanent force in July of 1952. He was appointed sergeant in 1955, lieutenant in 1960, captain in 1967 and acting deputy chief in 1971. In April of 1972 he was made a permanent deputy. In September of 1983 John was appointed the eleventh Chief of the Waltham department, following the tenure of Edward Sicotte. At the time he had over thirty years of police experience, and had for several years served as the department prosecutor at the 2nd District Court of Eastern Middlesex in Waltham. He retired from the department in November of 1988. Chief Rooney was also a graduate of Massachusetts Bay Community College, received specialized training in forensic medicine at the Boston University Law Medicine Research Institute, and attended the Command Training Institute at Babson College. He was a graduate of the 84th session of the F.B.I. National Academy. Chief Rooney was well respected by the law enforcement community throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and received several commendations and citations for successful investigations from district attorneys, neighboring police chiefs, colleges and businesses. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Rita L. (Scarpello) Rooney; his children, Lee Ann Rooney-Giardino and her husband, John, of Estero, Florida, John F. Rooney, 3rd and his wife, Janelle York-Rooney, of Southboro and Lynn C. Rooney-Brennan and her husband, Robert, of Concord; and his grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Boyd, Alexandra and Connor Rooney and Jesse, Allyson and Anastasia Brennan. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral at 9:30 a.m. Friday from The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham followed by a Funeral Mass in Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Mary McCarthy Hospice House, 73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.