’60 Minutes’ Correspondent Andy Rooney dead at 92

Longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent and Albany native Andy Rooney is dead at 92, according to CBS.

Rooney passed away Friday night from complications from an unspecified surgery in New York. Rooney retired as a commentator from the weekly news program just over a month ago, on October 2, after 1,097 appearances.

An Albany native, Rooney had lived in midtown – on Partridge Street, specifically – in his youth. Rooney subsequently attended Albany Academy before receiving his bachelor’s from Coltgate University in Hamilton. During World War II, Rooney wrote for “Stars and Stripes” while in London. In 1949, he began his career with CBS as a writer for Art Godrey. Rooney would later venture into their news division, working with CBS News correspondent Harry Reasoner on news essay pieces.

Rooney had begun his tenure on “60 Minutes” on July 2, 1978 as part of a summer replacement for “Point/Counterpoint.” By the fall, Rooney’s “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney” had completely replaced the debate series.

Rooney’s comments sometimes garnered controversy. In 1994, he was upset that the death of U.S. President Richard Nixon had been overshadowed by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s suicide. “A lot of people would like to have the years left that he threw away,” Rooney said. “What’s all this nonsense about how terrible life is? I’d love to relieve the pain you’re going through by switching my age for yours. What would all these young people be doing if they had real problems like a Depression, World War II or Vietnam? If [Cobain] applied the same brain to his music that he applied to his drug-infested life, it’s reasonable to think that his music may not have made much sense either.”

Rooney later apologized, stating he should have taken into account Cobain’s depression.

Rooney never strayed away from Upstate New York entirely. In recent years, Rooney had made a number of visits to the University at Albany to see the New York Giants’ summer camp as well as gave remarks to Albany Academy in 2008. Rooney maintained two homes – one in Norwalk, Conn. and the other in Rensselaerville in southern Albany County.

Rooney is survived by his four children.

Print PDF