Obituary for John Carmen Romano at Clifford Funeral Home & Cremation Service (2024)

CLARENDON - John Carmen Romano, 92, died June 6, 2024, at Dartmouth Hitchco*ck Medical Center, after a short illness. He was surrounded by his four children.

He was born on May 11, 1932, in Rutland, Vermont at the house owned by his grandfather, Salvatore Cioffi, at 260 West Street. He was the son of Salvatore (Slam) J. Romano and Mary Domenica Cioffi.

John married Lorine Durfee in Rutland, Vermont on September 24, 1960. He married his second wife, Margaret “Peggy” (McMahon) Stewart in Dillon, South Carolina in 1992. They had lived together for 22 years, and Peggy finally felt comfortable enough to marry him.

John graduated in Rutland, Vermont from St. Peter’s Grammar School and Mount Saint Joseph (MSJ) Academy High School in 1949. He enlisted in the US Air Force at the age of 17 and was initially stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Electronics School in the USAF at Biloxi, MS and then worked as an Aircraft Electronics Maintenance expert. He was stationed in Korea in 1952 during the war. After studying at Colorado A&M and the University of Vermont he received a BSEE in Electrical Engineering, and then an MSEE teaching fellowship in Electrical Engineering from UVM. He attended Computer Summer School at MIT and received a JD (Juris Doctor) from Western New England College. His work career was highlighted by positions as a CVPS Planning Engineer, Supervisor of Operation Studies at Northeast Utilities, Vermont Public Service Board Energy Systems Analyst, North Carolina Utilities Commission Utilities Engineer and NCEMC Manager of Rates and Manager of Engineering. He retired in 1996.

John had many passions in his life, among them, fishing, golfing, gardening and wine making. He loved sports of all kinds. He played organized softball and basketball. He loved to fish, especially in the fresh waters of Vermont, and he owned bamboo fishing poles that he purchased when he was stationed in Japan. He loved to watch basketball, football and golf on TV, but he also watched figure skating, tennis and many other sports. He and Peggy were not casual sports fans. They knew who all the players and participants were, as well as the techniques and scoring. However, the sport that captured John’s heart completely was golf. He joined the Rutland Country Club in the 1960’s and he played his last game at the RCC a few days before he died.

John was a passionate gardener. He always had a large and bountiful garden. At one time or another he must have grown every kind of edible plant. His orchard, vineyard, berry bushes, and flower beds were legendary. For many years he submitted entries to competition at the Vermont State Fair and he often won many prizes. His garage is lined with dozens of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons won by his entries. John loved to cook, and he especially loved baking bread, which he did several days a week. John cooked and Peggy was on the clean-up crew. For many years while in NC, sailing was a passion. John loved to produce and bottle his own wine. For several years his sons Dave and Dean helped him with his wine making. John and Peggy have attended the Wednesday night dinners at the Rutland Italian American Club weekly where they dined with friends and family. John had so many interests and hobbies that one couldn’t begin to create a comprehensive list. If he didn’t know about a subject, he would study it until he did know about it. He had an inquisitive mind and a desire for knowledge.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy (McMahon) Stewart of North Clarendon; three sons, John S. Romano of North Clarendon, David (Melissa) Romano and Dean Romano, both of Rutland and a daughter, Lori (Scott Graves) Romano of Milford, New Hampshire; two brothers, Bobby (Sherlene) Romano of Irving, Texas and Don (Terry) Romano of Rutland; and one sister, Lucille Romano (Jim Wrisley) of Punta Gorda, Florida; one step-daughter, Karen (Laird) Brush of Raleigh, NC; three step-sons, Tom (Patty Raymond) Stewart of North Clarendon, Mark (Gina) Stewart and Paul (Karen) Stewart both of Cuttingsville; twelve grandchildren, Joseph (Sarah) Romano, Tess (Steve) Shanahan, Sara (Austin Monte) Romano, Dominic (Rylee Warden) Romano, Matt Romano, Leah Romano, Devan Brush, John (Rachel) Stewart, Elliott (Alyssa) Stewart, Tanner (Alexa) Stewart, Kelsey (Keith) Hawkins, Ronnie Fabian; four great-grandchildren, Kyson Stewart, Kendyll Hawkins, Clayton Stewart and Ivy Shanahan. John is also survived by dozens of cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives. He comes from a very large Italian family. John’s father, Slam Romano, was one of 14 siblings. The Romano family originated from Candida, Avellino, Italy. His mother, Mary Cioffi, was born in Cervinara, Campania, Italy, one of 10 children. John had approximately 55 first cousins, most of whom lived and had children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the Rutland, Vermont area. Family names of his cousins include many recognizable Rutland families such as Cioffi, Gallo, DeLauri, Persico, Coloutti, Garofano and many others. John and Peggy often joked that they were like the Brady Bunch. When they got together, they each came with four children to the marriage. In 1984, Yasser Samir, a student from Cairo, Egypt, came to live with John and Peggy. He became a much-loved member of the family and was like a son to John.

A mass will be held for John on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 2:00pm at Christ the King Church in Rutland, followed by a Celebration of his Life at 3:00pm at the Rutland Italian American Club on 73 Grove Street in Rutland. Food will be served. A private burial of John’s ashes will take place at the Shrewsbury Center Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home.