Anthony Roman

CANFIELD – A memorial Mass will be Thursday, July 7, 2011, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, in Canfield for Anthony "Tony" W. Roman, 84, who died early Wednesday morning at his home. Tony was born Sept. 1, 1926, in Waterbury, Conn., a son of the late Anthony and Anna Dudonis Romanauskas. His wife, the former Marjorie Ploense, whom he married Jan. 19, 1951, predeceased him by 10 months on Aug. 11, 2010. Tony served his country in the Navy during World War II. He received his Bachelor's degree with high honors in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University. Tony had a long and distinguished career in business, rising from an engineer with a Chicago-based steel manufacturer to Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Machine Company, an Alliance-based company with world-wide manufacturing facilities that built some of the world's largest industrial cranes, including the crane that lifted the space shuttle into launch position. He was featured prominently in an article on industrial management excellence in the 25th Anniversary Edition of Production Engineering. Tony and his family moved to Canfield in 1975 when he became General Manager of ITT's Grinnell in Warren. Although he formally retired in 1989, Tony never stopped working and even well into his 80s continued to do consulting work for Boardman Medical Supply and to author a book on management principles and analysis. Tony was also an accomplished sculpture artist. His sculpture has been displayed in galleries in Columbus and in juried shows. His work includes a wood sculptured totem installed on Pelee Island, Ontario, a place that he loved and visited frequently. Tony attended St. Michael's Catholic Church, was a long time member of Tippecanoe Country Club and enjoyed both golf and fly fishing with his son-in-law and grandson. He is survived by his daughter, Bridgette Roman and son-in-law, Michael Schwind of Dublin; a much beloved grandson, Brandon Schwind of Lansing, Mich.; his brother, William Romanauskas of Mystic, Conn.; his niece, Sandi O'Brien of Niantic, Conn.; and nephew, David Polmon of Southbury, Conn. Tony's passing creates a void in the lives of his cherished friends who were so much like family to him Sam, Tina and Robin Savon; and Chris and Marsha Kenyhercz. Besides his parents and his wife, Tony was preceded in death by two sisters, Aldonna "Donny" Romanauskas and Lascadia "Scotty" Polmon; and brother-in-law, Anthony Polmon. Friends may call on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lane Funeral Home, Canfield Chapel. The family requests that material tributes take the form of contributions to the American Diabetes Association.