Walter E Romeo

Walter was born on April 9th 1918 in Arnold, Pennsylvania and passed away on January 23rd 2021 in Tampa, Fl. He was a devoted husband who was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 70 years, Olga Marenco Romeo.

He is survived by their 3 children and their families. Daughter Loretta and husband Peter Caporice (pre-deceased), daughter Audrey Fechner and son Walter Romeo Jr.

He is also survived by his Grandchildren; Yvette and husband Rick Dubaj, Peter Samuel Caporice and wife Kelly, Lisa and husband Peter Schafer, Ryan Fechner, Walter Dante Romeo and his wife Farrah, Paul Romeo, Chloe Romeo.

Great Grandchildren; Nicolas Dubaj, Savannah and Lauren Schafer, Olivia and Dylan Romeo, Dante Romeo.

A special Thank You to Senior Point ALF in Tampa and Lifepath Hospice.

Walter will be laid to rest next to his Beloved wife Olga. Graveside services to be held at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park in Tampa on Sunday January 31st, at 3 PM.

Walter's Italian Immigrant parents, Porcia and Dominic Romeo moved their family to Tampa from Pennsylvania in 1930 during the Great Depression. They had 8 children; 7 boys and 1 girl. Walter was the second from the youngest.

Although he was in Junior High School Walter was demoted to Robert E Lee elementary school to care for his younger brother Rudy who was blind. Then he was double promoted to George Washington Jr High and attended Hillsborough High school.

After returning from WWII, Walter enrolled at Jefferson night school for adults and earned his high school diploma.

He was a catholic and member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church. He belonged to several civic and social organizations.He was a member of the Optimist Club of Ybor City and played on it's bowling team. He was a member of the Sons of Italy La Nuova Sicilia Lodge #1251. He became President of the Sons Italy and President of it's Columbus Day Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Club in Ybor City, Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, Ybor Entertainment and Arts Association, Original Ybor City Ambassador and organizer of the Fiesta Day Event.

He played golf for many years and was a member of the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club, where he bought an old golf cart, painted it orange and put a big sticker of Bucco Bruce on the side.

He loved the Buccaneers and was a charter season ticket holder for 35 years. He attended every home game rain or shine in their 0-26 beginning. He and Olga flew to San Francisco on a charter flight in 1979 to watch the Bucs play the 49'ers on their ascent to the Conference Championship game played in Tampa which he attended along with every play-off game the Bucs played in and the Super Bowls played in Tampa.

Ubaldo Egitio Romeo

Dad was a young man in Tampa in the late 1930's and had decided to move back to Pittsburg, Pa. to find a good job working in the factories. As he was preparing to leave, he brother Val and a friend invited him to go to a dance. He didn't want to go since he was leaving early in the morning, but they talked him into going.

The dance was at the Villa Del Rio convent on the Hillsborough River. At the dance he asked a female friend of his, "Who is the pretty girl sitting across the room". She said "Oh that's Olga Marenco, come on and I'll introduce you to her". It was love at first sight for both of them and they danced the night away. Regretting that he was leaving in the morning, he promised Olga that he would come back for her and vowed to return.

Walter and Olga were married at the OLPH Catholic Church in Ybor City on August 10th, 1941. At the time he was driving a taxi cab making extra tips on "Fares" who wanted to go to the "Red Light District" across the tracks in Ybor City. He knew that wouldn't suffice, so they decided to return to his hometown of Arnold-New Kensington, Pa, where he'd get a good paying job at the "Aluminum Company of America". The building itself was one mile long.

Dad was a hard worker and very ambitious, always looking for a better job. His father Dominic had instilled in him the value of the "work ethic" early in life. All the brothers worked to support the family and they all payed room and board.

When he was a teenager in Tampa, dad sold newspapers for the Tampa Tribune "That was my corner ", he'd say when we drove by the Palm Ave., Baptist Church on Palm and Florida Ave.

He delivered Telegraphs for Western Union on a bicycle he built from spare parts he scrounged up. He was really proud when they promoted him to "Downtown Tampa"delivering Telegraphs on foot. "They gave me a real sharp uniform with a cap and I didn't have to peddle my bike for miles anymore". But he would peddle in the "annual bicycle race" across the Gandy bridge to St Pete and back to Tampa. "I came in 22nd and there was over 100 bikes in the race and my buddy Cosmo Ray was the winner".

With his friend Cosmo Ray and Wendell Keiser, whose father was a dare-devil motorcycle racer. The boys learned tricks and stunts from Wendell's father, worked on their motorcycles and raced around town.

Dad's brother Herman owned a gas station on the corner of Nebraska and Columbus Dr. and he worked for him pumping gas and honing his skill as an "Automobile Mechanic". They worked hard but they had fun too. Playing cards in the back room, gambling and "pitching pennies to the line".

When the newly weds arrived in Arnold-New Kensington, WWII had just begun. His job at ALCOA turned into working for "Republic Aircraft" fabricating aluminum parts for US Fighter planes.

Walter and Olga's first daughter Loretta was born in 1942 and their second daughter Audrey was born in 1944.

Dad was exempt from the draft since he had two children but as the war raged on he was soon drafted into the US Navy. In the Navy, his experience as an auto mechanic and working for "Republic Aircraft" helped him land a job on the USS Albemarle" a sea-plane tender where his rank was MMM3-C, "Motor Machinist Mate Third Class".

After the war Walter and Olga and their daughters returned to Tampa. They were able to buy a new home with help from Olga's father; Alejandro Marenco. He was an Italian Immigrant who came to Ybor City right before the turn of the 20th century. A well known business man whose plumbing company had introduced "Indoor Plumbing" to the residents of Ybor City. The new home was at 608 E. Columbus Dr. across the street from Marenco's home and plumbing Co.

In 1948 they had their third child Walter Romeo, Jr.

Walter Sr. was working for ALCOA on Adamo Dr. In Tampa in the early 1950's when the company was manufacturing the "Iconic" Dining room sets of that era. The table tops were made of "Formica" with aluminum edges.

Dad realized "Formica" was a new product that would be "The wave of the future". He quit his job at ALCOA with a "Dream" to own his own business. A business associate had a small shop and gave Dad a corner to work in "Rent Free". He started fabricating Formica Covered Kitchen Countertops. Then he rented half of an old barracks on Lois Ave. in Drew Park and with the help of his wife Olga he started producing the Countertops. Mom and Dad became "Lifetime Business Partners as the countertops started to become popular.

Home Builders in Tampa scoffed at the idea of using "Formica Tops" in the kitchen instead of traditional Ceramic Tile Countertops. But a prominent home builder finally gave dad his break and allowed him to install his "Formica Tops" in the new Kitchen. The business "Took off" as Formica started to replace Ceramic Tile. But Dad's Dream didn't end there.

He bought a vacant lot on Cherry St. And had a cabinet shop built by one of the Builders who had given him a break. He started making Cabinets and Installing complete kitchens.

I remember riding in the truck with Dad on the way to New Port Richey when he said; "The Eagle will Soar in 64". He had promised Mr Boyce of "Boyce Built Homes" that he could keep up with the Builders high production. He didn't have much help at the time and started hiring men and women mostly inexperienced many of them "Cuban Refugees " who had escaped from Castro's Cuba. They had prominent jobs in Cuba like businessmen and professionals but couldn't find a job in their fields in Tampa. Dad trained them himself and they became very proficient "Cabinetmakers" forever grateful that "Romeo" had given them a job when no one else would.

The new home building boom was in full swing and after many years of hard work Dad's "Dream" had come true as: Romeo Cabinets Inc.

Mom and Dad toured the country in their Brand New Cadillac and drove to "The World's Fair"in Montreal. They travelled around the world and visited relatives in Spain and Italy.

With Dad's relatives leading the way they climbed high up the mountain to the Village with a Castle on top called "Pentodatole" in Reggio Calabria, Italy. They viewed the ancient house made of stones where Dad's parents and siblings were born. They were intrigued when they saw the outdoor stone oven where Walter's mother Porcia had baked bread for her family. Today the village is an Historic Monument.

Dad was an "Amazing Man" and everyone knew he was the "Ultimate Family Man".