Norwood’s Brian Rooney adds to Eagles

Photo courtesy Tom Brizzolara
From left to right: Assemblyman Robert Auth, Senator Gerry Cardinale, Brian Rooney, Michael Rooney, Matthew Rooney, and Mayor James Barsa. All three Rooney brothers are Eagles.

NORWOOD—Congratulations to Brian Rooney, the third son of John Rooney to make Eagle Scout. After helping his father deliver communion to patients room to room at Buckingham at Norwood and Brentwood Manor Residential Care, Brian seized on the idea for his Eagle project.

“The patients love birds; how about if I made them bird feeders?” his father says Brian proposed. That resolution led to an amendment: Brian also wanted to make the homes four picnic tables and eight benches.

“By no means are we carpenters,” former councilman John Rooney told the Northern Valley Press. “We sought guidance on how to do this from local carpenters, and Brian took a liking to it very quickly.”

Brian also demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in putting a team of boys to work on the project, John added. Brian, who is spending the summer as a lifeguard, plans to attend Montclair State University in the fall and wants to teach history.