Shawn Douglas Roman

Shawn Douglas Roman passed peacefully in the early hours of May 3, 2024 surrounded by his brother, sister-in-law, and four loving nephews with whom he would spend his holidays and vacations. Shawn succumbed to organ failures and complications caused by a very aggressive esophageal cancer that from discovery in mid April left little time for a battle. Born September 15,1960 in Seattle, Washington, he was the son of Captain Paul D. Roman (USN Ret) and Geraldine G. Laedtke both of Wisconsin. He was predeceased by his parents.

As a son of a Navy flyer Shawn moved around spending childhood in Whidbey Island WA, Newport RI, Monterey CA, Annandale VA, Honolulu HI, and Keflavik Iceland, before his family settled in Springfield VA for his teen years. A graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield VA and later Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond VA.

While living in Richmond Shawn spent the first half of his career in the sporting goods industry principally involved in team uniform outfitting and sales to high schools, colleges, and the pros. Many times he was proud of the packages he was able to develop for some of the big southern classic games. He later moved to Atlanta and eventually began a second career in underwing operations with Delta Airlines. He was a training instructor with a team he loved who had a daunting task to onboard many thousands of employees after the Covid epidemic and as flight operations increased. He presented a gruff presence to new trainees by never smiling as he ran them through training, keeping them on their toes. Those that made it to the end would finally get that smile of approval and words of encouragement. They started out not knowing which end is up and by the end loved him. Shawn was loved by all! He had a tough exterior but a loving and tender heart. He was the life of a party with any manner of jokes and quick dry witted humor. Always self-deprecating he could tell a non-PC story or joke and get away with it. Shawn loved the beach and had many opportunities to share time on vacations at beautiful beaches with his brother’s family. His perfect day would be sitting in a chair with his feet in the warm sand and a cooler by his side.

Shawn is survived by his older sister Melissa R. Patterson (Lancaster, PA) married to Christopher Patterson, and older brother Barclay E. Roman (Clifton, VA) married to Gail Arnold; his eight nieces and nephews Timothy, Elizabeth, Moira, and Marian Patterson, and Barclay II, Bradford, Russell, and Chance Roman; and five great-nieces and great-nephews Beckett Knox Roman, Ridley Nova Roman, Keira Anne Roman, Tenley Paige Roman and Christopher Michael Le.

Per his wishes, and in keeping with Viking tradition his ashes will be spread at sea during a small family gathering. In lieu of flowers donations in Shawn’s honor to the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org>esophageal>donation) or since his father suffered from Parkinson’s to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org).