# Andy Rooney's college roommate has heart attack at his memorial service \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437 "2011-11-09T22:44:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/1 "2011-11-09T22:44:30Z")
I am totally going to hell for giggling at [this](http://gawker.com/5858040/). ETA: Susie Ordway, wherever you are, I expect nothing less in 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/2 "2011-11-09T22:54:06Z")
[He got better](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059608/Veteran-journalist-Andy-Rooneys-college-roommate-suffers-heart-attack-memorial-service.html). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/3 "2011-11-09T23:02:52Z")
Ah. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/4 "2011-11-09T23:06:36Z")
That is NOT funny. I am NOT laughing. And the “he got better” from **Zjestika**? Not even remotely hilarious enough to make me bark out a laugh and scare my cat. For shame! ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/5 "2011-11-10T00:07:41Z")
Andre the Giant died of a heart attack while in Paris to attend his father’s funeral. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/6 "2011-11-10T00:13:22Z")
Maybe “I’m not dead yet” should be added to the thread title? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/7 "2011-11-10T01:56:36Z")
I remember a news story about a popular black singing group(30’s to 80’s) called the Delta Rhythm Boys. In their later years they performed primarily in Europe, where they had made a lot of fans. At the funeral of one of the members another member was in the church balcony singing a solo, when this man collapsed and died of a heart attack. It was being videoed and it was really sad when you see the camera, which was close to him, move around and follow the guy down to the floor, before being shut off. > **[The Delta Rhythm Boys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Delta_Rhythm_Boys)** > > The Delta Rhythm Boys was an American vocal group active from 1934 to 1987. > The group was formed at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, in 1934 by Carl Jones, Traverse Crawford, Otha Lee Gaines, and Kelsey Pharr. They moved to Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1936 and worked there under Frederick Hall as the Frederick Hall Quintet and the New Orleans Quintet. > They performed on radio programs such as Amos and Andy and The Joan Davis Show, and performed on Broadway in the... ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/8 "2011-11-10T02:07:11Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Maybe “I’m not dead yet” should be added to the thread title? Good point. I changed it from “drops dead” to “has heart attack.” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/9 "2011-11-10T02:50:24Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Good point. I changed it from “drops dead” to “has heart attack.” Ah, now the ‘he got better’ joke is ruined. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/10 "2011-11-10T02:53:53Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Ah, now the ‘he got better’ joke is ruined. Good thing neither of us laughed, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/11 "2011-11-10T05:13:05Z")
But does he have bushy eyebrows? ---
**Author:** ![JP\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@JP\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JP_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/12 "2011-11-10T18:06:33Z")
This was my good friend that suffered the Heart Attack at Andy Rooney’s Memorial Service. He’s been partially paralized for 10 years and is wheel chair bound. He and his son maybe a huge effort to attend the service. Andy and Bob were best friends for 60 years so although you probably didn’t mean to be insensitive, many people are saddened by this unfortunate event. Additionally, Bob Ruthman is a Veteran of World War Two as was Andy. JP Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/13 "2011-11-10T19:13:35Z")
Whoa. Posted, edited the post and the edit fucked up the post completely. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/14 "2011-11-10T19:19:18Z")
> [@JP\_Schwartz](#): > > This was my good friend that suffered the Heart Attack at Andy Rooney’s Memorial Service. He’s been partially paralized for 10 years and is wheel chair bound. He and his son maybe a huge effort to attend the service. Andy and Bob were best friends for 60 years so although you probably didn’t mean to be insensitive, many people are saddened by this unfortunate event. Additionally, Bob Ruthman is a Veteran of World War Two as was Andy. > JP Schwartz Good thing nobody laughed. Out of respect since Andy never evidenced a sense of humor. P.S. Everyone must at least come down with a cold at my funeral. And no one better make a joke. Especially on a message board I never frequented. Out of respect. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/15 "2011-11-10T19:21:26Z")
> [@JP\_Schwartz](#): > > This was my good friend that suffered the Heart Attack at Andy Rooney’s Memorial Service. He’s been partially paralized for 10 years and is wheel chair bound. He and his son maybe a huge effort to attend the service. Andy and Bob were best friends for 60 years so although you probably didn’t mean to be insensitive, many people are saddened by this unfortunate event. Additionally, Bob Ruthman is a Veteran of World War Two as was Andy. > JP Schwartz Thank you for the information. Too many people here only remember Andy Rooney as the cranky old guy on _60 Minutes_. They don’t realize that he, too, was young once. (Although many of the posters here are more middle-aged, I think.) My own father served in the 8th Air Force–where Mr Rooney served & wrote, [all those years ago](http://www.pbs.org/weta/reportingamericaatwar/reporters/rooney/writing69th.html). But he was a casualty of the Cold War & never lived to be an old guy. Death at the end of a long life is sad, but let’s be glad for the many good years… ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/16 "2011-11-10T20:23:06Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > . . . [Andy Rooney], too, was young once… Eh. . . cite? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/17 "2011-11-10T20:32:36Z")
Holy crap! How did I miss Andy Rooney dying? A WEEK AGO! That is weird. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/18 "2011-11-10T21:01:30Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Holy crap! How did I miss Andy Rooney dying? A WEEK AGO! Yeah, he talked about how being dead was a nuisance on 60 Minutes this week. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/19 "2011-11-10T21:18:26Z")
Like shooting people in the face, heart attacks are only funny when Dick Cheney is the person involved. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437/20 "2011-11-10T22:03:40Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Holy crap! How did I miss Andy Rooney dying? A WEEK AGO! > > That is weird. Seriously? He died? Wow. it makes sense now. I’ve been trying to make sense of this story forever. Why would you have a memorial service for Andy Rooney? Last I heard he was retiring. Way to pull a Charles Schultz, Andy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-rooneys-college-roommate-has-heart-attack-at-his-memorial-service-edited-title/602437.md?page=2)