Andy Rooney, Long-time '60 Minutes' Commentator, Dead at 92

When "60 Minutes" commentator Andy Rooney issued his last commentary, not that long ago, we all probably thought he would live on for some time, but it was not to be: Andy Rooney has died at the age of 92, just weeks after his retirement.

It was reported less than two weeks ago that Rooney had been hospitalized with post-surgery complications. Rooney had been hospitalized for an undisclosed surgery, but major complications developed and he never recovered. He died Friday night.

It is unclear if Rooney was aware of an upcoming surgery, and that it led to his retirement, when he gave his last commentary on Oct. 2.

Truthfully, Rooney said he wasn't retiring. Instead, he was just giving his last segment on the CBS newsmagazine, "60 Minutes." He said he wasn't retiring. Writers never retire.

"60 Minutes" colleague, correspondent Steve Kroft emphasized that fact. "Andy always said he wanted to work until the day he died, and he managed to do it, save the last few weeks in the hospital."

Leslie Moonves, CBS Corp. president and CEO said, "Words cannot adequately express Andy's contribution to the world of journalism and the impact he made — as a colleague and a friend — upon everybody at CBS."

Jeff Fager, CBS News chairman and "60 Minutes" executive producer, said "it's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much."

Andy Rooney had been with CBS since 1949, first as a writer for "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts," and had been part of the "60 Minutes" show since 1978. "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney" (originally "Three Minutes or So With Andy Rooney") began its life in 1978 as a summer replacement feature for the debate segment "Point / Counterpoint," which featured James Kilpatrick and Shana Alexander. The feature proved popular, and when the fall returned, and the debate segment as well, Rooney's segment was seen in alternate weeks with the debate segment. At the end of the 1978-79 season, "Point / Counterpoint" was dropped.

Rooney himself said the following in his final segment:

Not many people in this world are as lucky as I have been. When I was in high school I had an English teacher who told me I was a good writer so I set out to become a writer myself. I've made my living as a writer for seventy years now. It's been pretty good.

During World War II, I wrote for the army newspaper the "Stars and Stripes." After the war I went to work in radio and television because I didn't think anyone was paying enough attention to the written word. I worked with a lot of great people who had the voice for radio, or they looked good on television. But someone had to write what they said, and that was me.

When I went on television it was as a writer. I don't think of myself as a television personality. I'm a writer who reads what he's written.

People have often told me I said the things they are thinking themselves. I probably haven't said anything here that you didn't already know or have already thought. That's what a writer does. There aren't too many original thoughts in the world.

A writers' job is to tell the truth. I believe that if all the truth were known about everything in the world it would be a better place to live. I know I've been terribly wrong sometimes, but I think I've been right more than I've been wrong.

I may have given the impression that I don't care what anyone else thinks, but I do care. I care a lot. I have always hoped people will like what I've written. Being liked is nice but it's not my intent.

I spent my first 50 years trying to become well known as a writer, and the next 30 trying to avoid being famous. I walk down the street now or go to a football game and people shout "Hey Andy!" And I hate that.

I've done a lot of complaining here, but of all the things I've complained about, I can't complain about my life. My wife Margie and I had four good kids...now there are grandchildren. I have two great grand children although they're a little young for me to know how great they are. And all this time I've been paid to say what is on my mind on television. You don't get any luckier in life than that.

This is a moment I have dreaded. I wish I could do this forever. I can't though. But I'm not retiring. Writers don't retire and I'll always be a writer.

A lot of you have sent me wonderful letters and said good things to me when you meet me in the street. I wasn't always gracious about it. It's hard to accept being liked. I don't say this often, but thank you. Although if you do see me in a restaurant, please, just let me eat my dinner.

Andy Rooney and his wife, Marguerite, were married for 62 years before she died of heart failure in 2004. The couple had four children and lived in New York, with homes in Rowayton, Conn., and upstate New York. Brian Rooney was a longtime ABC News correspondent, daughter Emily Rooney is a former executive producer of ABC's "World News Tonight," Ellen a photographer and Martha Fishel is chief of the public service division of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Watch Rooney's final segment, below. Poignantly, he said " I wish I could do this forever. I can't though."

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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