Wirtz, who died suddenly on July 25 at age 70, remembered as an approachable man and for guiding the Blackhawks from the bottom of the NHL to three Stanley Cups.

Late Chicago Blackhawks chairman W. Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz was remembered as a humble, approachable family man, as well the team owner who turned around the Original Six NHL franchise and oversaw its run to three Stanley Cup championships over six seasons.

Wirtz died suddenly on July 25 at age 70. The third-generation of the Wirtz family to wholly own the Blackhawks, the North Shore Chicago resident's life and business accomplishments were celebrated in two separate memorial services.

A private ceremony for family and about 900 invited guests was held Tuesday, Aug. 8 at the Fourth Presbyterian Church on Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue. Patrick Kane was among of dozens of former Blackhawks players in attendance. So was Joel Quenneville, who coached Chicago’s Stanley Cup teams in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Blackhawks have just six total championsips since entering the NHL in 1926.

Connor Bedard, selected by Chicago first overall in the 2023 NHL draft, was at the private event, as was NHL Commission Gary Bettman. Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox and co-owner of the United Center with the Wirtz Corporation, spoke at the private ceremony.

The 82-year-old Reinsdorf reportedly suddenly choked up while discussing the loss of his “close and cherished friend."

A public ceremony and visitation followed at the United Center on Wednesday, Aug. 9. Family and invited guests, including Blackhawks players, front office personnel and coaches, were seated on the floor. Fans were accommodated in the arena’s lower bowl.

Former Blackhawks goaltender and returning TV commentator Darren Pang moderated the event from a flower-bedecked stage with the team’s Stanley Cup banners from 2010, 2013 and 2015 in the background. The word "Rocky" was projected on the stage and on guests' lapel pins.

Pang eulogized Wirtz as a “caring, affable, personable man.” He also gave a call-out to Danny Wirtz, Rocky’s son and team CEO who is expected to take control of the franchise.

“The Blackhawks are in great hands with you at the helm, I know that,” Pang said.

Pang was followed by former Blackhawks play-by-play broadcaster Pat Foley and three ex-players —Chris Chelios, Marian Hossa and Brent Seabrook. Chelios, a Hall-of-Famer and Chicago area-native who his now a team ambassador, skated for the Blackhawks in the 1990s.

Hossa and Seabrook were key performers on the Cup-winning teams. Hossa lauded Wirtz, whose family owns mammoth liquor distributor, with helping him launch a food service business.

Rocky Wirtz was credited with saving the team after his father, Bill, died in 2007. The Blackhawks had slid to the bottom of the NHL and crowds at the United Center had dwindled to about one-third capacity on many nights.

The arrival of Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and other stars drove the team’s improvement on the ice. Rocky Wirtz was cited with guiding the resurgence of the franchise to one that was valued at $1.5 billion by Forbes in 2022.

“When Rocky took over, the Blackhawks were irrelevant in the city of Chicago,” Foley said. “He may have been the most popular owner in the history of Chicago sports.”

A recording of fans chanting “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky,” from Stanley Cup celebrations was played, somewhat subdued, on the arena public address system. A band played the Blackhawks goal celly song, “Chelsea Dagger,” as the public event concluded.