Columbus, OH — Patrick Rooney Sr., 84, the son of late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney Sr., former Palm Beach Kennel Club CEO and a long-time Palm Beach County resident, died Oct. 29, 2023.

Mr. Rooney was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on March 7, 1939, one of five sons of Arthur J. and Kathleen Rooney. His father founded the six-time world champion Steelers.

He attended St. Peter’s Catholic Grammar School on the north side of Pittsburgh, went to high school at North Catholic and graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1960 with a major in history and business. He played football and baseball at North Catholic and Mount St. Mary’s and was captain of the college tennis team.

After graduation from Mount St. Mary’s, he worked at the C.G. Hussey & Company of Pittsburgh as a sales representative from 1960-63. He was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1960-66.

Mr. Rooney married Sandra Sully of Hazelwood, Pa., on Oct. 20, 1962. They had seven children.

In 1963, Mr. Rooney began his pari-mutuel career, starting as assistant racing secretary at Brandywine Raceway in Wilmington, Del., and serving in the same capacity at Liberty Bell racetrack in Philadelphia. From 1964-69, Mr. Rooney was general manager at Liberty Bell.

He and his brother John were instrumental in making it possible for Thoroughbred racing at Liberty Bell, leading to his election to the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

He served as president of Continental Racing Association in Philadelphia (1969-73), Green Mountain Racetrack in Pownal, Vt. (1973-92) and the Palm Beach Kennel Club (1978-09). From 2009-23, he held the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board for PBKC.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra (nee Sully); sons, Patrick Jr., Joseph, Christopher, Brian and Thomas; daughters, Theresa Rooney Meis and Monica (Molly) Rooney Smith; and his brother, Timothy, a member of the Harness Racing Living Hall of Fame.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday (Nov. 4) at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 13591 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens. Family and friends are invited to visitation at the church from 12:30-1 p.m., followed immediately by the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment at Our Lady Queen of Peace cemetery in Royal Palm Beach will be private.

Those who wish to express their condolences following the mass are invited by the family to the Palm Beach Kennel Club, 1111 N. Congress Ave., West Palm Beach.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation.