Peter Romano, a friend to many in Valley Stream, died on July 14. A former president of the local Democratic Club, he is remembered as a respected healer who was largely responsible for uniting a fractious organization with a spirit of cooperation.
Born in Brooklyn on Nov. 20, 1941, to Santo and Rose Romano, Peter graduated from Fordham University's School of Education and became a case worker for the New York City Department of Social Services. It was there that he met Veronica McDonnell during a training class in 1963. They were married a few years later.
He became a teacher for the City that same year and was featured as a model attendance teacher in The New York Times in 1981.
They moved to Valley Stream in 1972. Peter became active in the Gibson Civic Association, and began his involvement with the Democratic Party soon after moving to Valley Stream. He held a number of political positions in the Valley Stream Democratic Organization, including zone leader, president of the Valley Stream Democratic Club, and assistant assembly district leader. He also worked with parents to form the Gibson Cooperative Nursery School.
Eleanor Sciglibaglio, the current zone leader, has fond memories of the man she said "was extremely helpful to someone who knew absolutely nothing about what to do as a zone leader. He was always there for me to rely on for information whenever I felt lost. He was a good man, good for the party and good for the community."
John DeGrace, the Republican leader, said he was saddened to hear of Peter's passing. "In 1995, Peter and I got together as local leaders of the two major parties in Valley Stream to form a Coalition Party at the village level. As far as I know, that was the first time a true coalition was created with the intention of developing good representative government in Valley Stream. To this day, our goal of having government which is not divisive, but good and productive for the people is still in place, and it really could not have been accomplished without Peter's support.
"My wife, Barbara, and I extend our deep sympathies to Peter's family and friends over their loss," DeGrace said.
Peter retired in 1996 and he and Veronica moved to Cutchogue in 1998.
Veronica survives him, as do his sons, Christopher and Gary, and siblings John and Sue.
Memorials may be sent to the Dominican Sisters Health Services, 103 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY, 11946.
