Obituary of Thomas Joseph Romano

Thomas Joseph Romano, 93, died Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Queens. Born in New York City on June 15, 1918, he resided first in Plainfield, then in Green Brook, New Jersey. Tom was a veteran of World War II serving in the 29th infantry division and a survivor of the invasion of Normandy where he returned with other surviving members of that event to commemorate its 25th and 50th anniversary. A graduate of Alfred University with a bachelor's degree in Arts and Sciences, Tom then received a Masters Degree in Education from Alfred and taught at De Will Clinton high school in NYC before joining S.E.Massengill, then Hoffman La Roche each time as a sales representative for the pharmaceutical division. Tom was an elected representative to the Plainfield city council in the 1950's, and was a long time member of the Italian American Club of North Plainfield and Raritan Valley Country Club where he indulged in his favorite pastime, close seconds being the racetrack and the Yankees. His parents, Angelina and Joseph Romano, predeceased him as did his brother Frank R. Romano MD, Rose Artale, Helen Romano and his long time companion Frances Donarauma. He is survived by his sister, Mildred Sabatello, his sister-in-law Phyllis Romano, and his beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews to whom he was devoted. A visitation will be held this Wednesday, June 6, 2012 from 10:30 to 11:00 am at the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 11:30 am at Our Lady of the Mount Chapel in Warren and entombment at Somerset Hills Memorial Park Cemetery in Basking Ridge. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to the Alzheimer's Association and the Lou Gehrig Foundation would be deeply appreciated.