Chicago Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz Dies After Short Illness

CHICAGO — Rocky Wirtz, the principal owner of the Chicago Blackhawks who propelled the franchise into a three-time Stanley Cup winner over a six-year span, died on Tuesday after a short illness. He was 70.

Wirtz, who took over ownership of the Hawks from his father in 2007, died suddenly but was surrounded by his family at NorthShore Evanston Hospital when he passed away. The Blackhawks confirmed the Hawks chairman’s death shortly after 7 p.m. after reports about Wirtz's death began to surface earlier in the evening.

"Our hearts are very heavy today,” Rocky's son, Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement issued by the family. "Our dad was a passionate businessman committed to making Chicago a great place to live, work and visit, but his true love was for his family and close friends.

“He was a loving father, a devoted husband to Marilyn, a brother, a nephew, an uncle, and a doting grandfather to his six remarkable grandchildren. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of many and we will miss him terribly."

However, while Wirtz will be remembered for ushering in championship seasons that began in 2010 after the team added young stars in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and veteran leaders such as Marian Hossa, Wirtz’s legacy of team ownership will also be tainted following his death. The team’s cover-up of the alleged sexual assault of a young prospect, Kyle Beach at the hands of a team video coach, sullied the team’s image under Wirtz’s watch.

An independent review of the cover-up led the team general manager Stan Bowman to resignwhile other team officials who were part of the organization when the alleged sexual assault took place were fired. Coach Joel Quenneville, who was fired by the Hawks and landed a coaching job with the Florida Panthers, resigned from coaching as part of the scandal's fallout.

The investigation determined that no one in the ownership group, including Wirtz, knew anything about the cover-up. Also named in the cover-up was former team President John McDonough, whom Wirtz had fired at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wirtz said that he did not know of the allegations — which were first made by Beach against Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup run —until Beach, who was identified in the investigation as John Doe, filed a lawsuit against the team in 2021.

Wirtz said at the time of the release of the report by Jenner and Block that had he known about the allegations at the time they were made, "we certainly wouldn't be standing here today."

Wirtz bristled at reporters who continued to ask about the 103-page report that came out of the independent investigation as Danny Wirtz and other team officials pledged more accountability moving forward. When reporters continued to ask about the details of the investigation, Wirtz said, “We’re not here to talk about the past” and said that everyone involved in the cover-up was no longer with the organization.

Wirtz became the fifth principal owner of the Hawks after the death of his father, Bill. The team had been in the Wirtz family since 1954, when Wirtz’s grandfather Arthur, purchased the team.

Wirtz also served as President of Wirtz Corporation since 2007, where his role extended to a vast array of businesses from sports and beverage distribution to entertainment, real estate, agriculture, and banking. He also served as co-chairman of both the United Center Joint Venture and the Executive Committee of the United Center.

Following the team’s announcement of Wirtz’s death, executives from the Chicago Bears, Cubs, White Sox, and Bulls all sent condolences, praising Wirtz for his efforts in building a championship franchise with the Blackhawks.

Jerry Reinsdorf, the chairman of the Sox and Bulls, said in a statement that he personally devastated by the “shocking news.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement, referring to Wirtz as a “champion in every sense of the word.”

“Rocky almost immediately restored the passion and following of this storied Original Six franchise,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement Tuesday. “Rocky’s focus on connecting with the club’s fans and improving the team’s performance on the ice rekindled Chicago fans’ love affair with their hockey team and built a modern dynasty.

Wirtz is survived by his wife Marilyn; his children, Danny Wirtz, Kendall Murphy, and Hillary Wirtz, and Elizabeth Queen and their six grandchildren.