James Bernard Rooney Jr.

James Bernard Rooney Jr., 55, of Point Pleasant NJ, left this world on July 15, 2024, for the great fishing grounds of the universe. He voyaged peacefully from his home succumbing to tonsillar cancer.

Rooney was a commercial fisherman for most of his career. He graduated from Kean University majoring in elementary education and geosciences. Following his graduation from Kean he taught for three years at Bangs Avenue Elementary School in Asbury Park, NJ before returning to a life at sea. Often people would comment how hard commercial fishing was and Rooney would respond,” I guess you’ve never been a teacher.”

Rooney’s passion was the ocean. He enjoyed working on it, recreating in it and traveling to anywhere that was near it. He was much happier on the water than land often complaining about “Land people.”

Always an adventurer he never questioned Tina’s vacation choices of seeing icebergs in Newfoundland, camping up and down the east coast in hurricane like weather, listening to coyotes howl in Meat Cove, cage diving with sharks in Gansbaai, walking with lions looking for the Southern Cross in South Africa, night diving with manta rays off the coast of Kona, riding bicycles to Kilauea’s lava flow, chasing the aurora borealis in Quebec, and staying in questionable ecolodges and Airbnb’s throughout the Caribbean. By far his favorite place was on the Big Island of Hawaii or more specifically in or on the Pacific off the coast of the island.

Rooney Junior is survived by his parents Jim and Joan, sister Janice, and a plethora of cousins.

Rooney loved and was loved by all his brothers and sisters-in-laws and his nieces and nephews. He was fiercely proud to be part of the family. He will be deeply missed by both family and friends.

Rooney was his wife’s Tina best friend and adventure and fishing partner. Canyon runs will never be the same without him by her side.

Rooney had a great soul, a big heart and a bigger smile till the end.

A hui hou-till we meet again.

A Memorial Service will be held August 22, 2024, beginning 5:30 pm at Loughran Point Park, 31 Inlet Dr, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742. Casual dress.

Services are entrusted to Jersey Shore Cremation, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manasquan, NJ.

Donations can be made in memory of James Rooney to either:

For Pete’s Sake https://takeabreakfromcancer.org/

or

Tuxedo Hearts Boston Terrier Rescue payable to

Tuxedo Hearts

66 Stanford Road

Penington NJ 08534

Please in memo ”Memory of Jim Rooney”