1933
Marjorie
2024
Marjorie Jean (Backus) Romano
January 30, 1933 — August 28, 2024
Marjorie Romano Obituary
Marjorie Jean Romano, 91, of Hampton, Connecticut died of natural causes on August 28, 2024.
Jean lived a life of service, generosity and compassion, raising a family with her husband Tony and pursuing a groundbreaking career in education. From her start as a classroom teacher, Jean went on to excel as Director of Bilingual Education, grant-writer, and pioneering founder of the Windham School District’s acclaimed Companeros dual language program. She brought out the best in her students and fellow teachers, helping many build careers they never thought possible. Their enduring success is Jean’s greatest tribute.
Jean was born in 1933 during the Great Depression in Bergen County, New Jersey to Marjorie (nee Hughes) Backus and William Backus. Money was scarce and Jean learned the importance of kindness and offering a helping hand. She graduated from Lodi High and New Jersey College for Women (now part of Rutgers University) where she earned an English degree and met Antonio “Tony” Romano while waitressing. Tony loved bragging that Jean, not he, was the spouse who earned Phi Beta Kappa honors.
They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1956 where Tony worked as a biology professor and Jean devoted herself to sons Steve, Jim and Charley while earning an education degree and later teaching at an inner-city elementary school. She also enjoyed oil painting and was a dedicated Cub Scouts Den Mother.
In 1971, Tony accepted a faculty position at UConn and the family moved to Mansfield. Jean earned her master’s in education at UConn and soon began her long teaching career in Willimantic. During that time Tony Laboy joined the family, becoming one of Jean and Tony’s boys.
They loved New England, taking up cross-country skiing and nature walks, spoiling a succession of well-fed dogs, exploring the coast, eating seafood, visiting Jean’s wonderful cousins and opening their home to friends and family from near and far. They traveled extensively in the West to visit their sons, and throughout Europe. Italy was a favorite, where they could explore Tony’s roots, and he could practice his childhood Italian.
In 1994, they moved to Hampton. They made new friends, felled trees and grew lush gardens and wildflower meadows. Jean consulted on federal bilingual education grants into her 80s, volunteered at the Hampton Gazette and library, and authored several books. She was busily tending her gardens the day before she passed.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband Tony. She is survived by her boys Steve (Gerri), Jim (Debi), Charley (Teresa), Tony (Maria); her grandsons Mike (Keri) , T.J., Matt (Rebecca), Stephanie (Andrew), Brian, Antonio (Amberly) and Jeremias; great-grandchildren Michael Jr., Leisha, Angelina and Keegan, and her beloved cat Maeve.
Donations to the UConn Foundation in the name of the Antonio H. Romano and Marjorie J. Romano Graduate Education Fund are greatly appreciated.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the UConn Alumni Center's Banquet Hall, 2384 Alumni Drive, Unit 3053, Storrs, CT.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Marjorie Jean (Backus) Romano, please visit our floral store.
Read More
Marjorie Jean Romano, 91, of Hampton, Connecticut died of natural causes on August 28, 2024.
Jean lived a life of service, generosity and compassion, raising a family with her husband Tony and pursuing a groundbreaking career in education. From her start as a classroom teacher, Jean went on to excel as Director of Bilingual Education, grant-writer, and pioneering founder of the Windham School District’s acclaimed Companeros dual language program. She brought out the best in her students and fellow teachers, helping many build careers they never thought possible. Their enduring success is Jean’s greatest tribute.
Jean was born in 1933 during the Great Depression in Bergen County, New Jersey to Marjorie (nee Hughes) Backus and William Backus. Money was scarce and Jean learned the importance of kindness and offering a helping hand. She graduated from Lodi High and New Jersey College for Women (now part of Rutgers University) where she earned an English degree and met Antonio “Tony” Romano while waitressing. Tony loved bragging that Jean, not he, was the spouse who earned Phi Beta Kappa honors.
They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1956 where Tony worked as a biology professor and Jean devoted herself to sons Steve, Jim and Charley while earning an education degree and later teaching at an inner-city elementary school. She also enjoyed oil painting and was a dedicated Cub Scouts Den Mother.
In 1971, Tony accepted a faculty position at UConn and the family moved to Mansfield. Jean earned her master’s in education at UConn and soon began her long teaching career in Willimantic. During that time Tony Laboy joined the family, becoming one of Jean and Tony’s boys.
They loved New England, taking up cross-country skiing and nature walks, spoiling a succession of well-fed dogs, exploring the coast, eating seafood, visiting Jean’s wonderful cousins and opening their home to friends and family from near and far. They traveled extensively in the West to visit their sons, and throughout Europe. Italy was a favorite, where they could explore Tony’s roots, and he could practice his childhood Italian.
In 1994, they moved to Hampton. They made new friends, felled trees and grew lush gardens and wildflower meadows. Jean consulted on federal bilingual education grants into her 80s, volunteered at the Hampton Gazette and library, and authored several books. She was busily tending her gardens the day before she passed.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband Tony. She is survived by her boys Steve (Gerri), Jim (Debi), Charley (Teresa), Tony (Maria); her grandsons Mike (Keri) , T.J., Matt (Rebecca), Stephanie (Andrew), Brian, Antonio (Amberly) and Jeremias; great-grandchildren Michael Jr., Leisha, Angelina and Keegan, and her beloved cat Maeve.
Donations to the UConn Foundation in the name of the Antonio H. Romano and Marjorie J. Romano Graduate Education Fund are greatly appreciated.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the UConn Alumni Center's Banquet Hall, 2384 Alumni Drive, Unit 3053, Storrs, CT.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Marjorie Jean (Backus) Romano, please visit our floral store.
Read More
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marjorie Jean (Backus) Romano, please visit our flower store.
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