Anthony R. Romano

Anthony Robert “ Tony” Romano, 92, of Portage, Michigan passed away on February 22, 2023. Tony was born in 1931 in Syracuse, New York. He was a son of the late Andrew and Rose (Morga) Romano.

Tony graduated from North High School in Syracuse, New York and then attended Syracuse University. He was the first in family to attend college. His education was interrupted by the Korean War where he served in the United States Army for two years. Upon completion of his military service he returned to Syracuse University graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering.

In 1955 Tony married his neighborhood sweetheart who lived just two doors down, Jeanne Kempf. Tony and Jeanne moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where Tony worked as a foreman at Bethlehem Steel. They then moved to Buffalo and returned to Syracuse where Tony worked for twenty-five years at General Electric. In Syracuse, Tony and Jeanne had two daughters, Sue and Wen-d. After being transferred with GE Tony and his family moved to Andover, Massachusetts. Subsequently the family moved to Coventry, Rhode Island and then to Portage, Michigan where he retired.

Upon retiring Tony taught himself wood carving. He loved carving Santas which his wife Jeanne, painted. They went throughout the Kalamazoo craft circuit as “Sawdust and Threads” and Tony became well known for his delightful Santa carvings.

Tony is predeceased by his parents and brother Joseph. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Jeanne; daughter Sue Lynch and her husband Dan of Wellfleet, Massachusetts: daughter Wen-d Romano of Kalamazoo, Michigan; two grandchildren, Katie and Bob Lynch; brothers Stephen Romano and wife Sally, and Andrew Romano and wife Gail, of Syracuse, New York; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Langeland Family Funeral Home, 3926 S 9th St, Kalamazoo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00a.m. Friday, March 3, 2023 at St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish, Kalamazoo, with Father Paul Redmond presiding. The Mass will be followed by the Rite of Committal and Burial at Portage South Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the St. Thomas More Student Parish Alema Canter.

Please visit Tony's memory page at www.langelands.com to sign his guest book or share memories with his family.