John Dominic Romano, age 56, passed away at Lewisville Medical Center on June 3, as a result of a sudden cardiac arrest he suffered on May 21.

John was born to Joe and Rosalie Romano on Oct. 5, 1957, in Orange.

He grew up there as part of a big, loving, traditional Italian-American family, and enjoying an idyllic small town childhood where everyone knew everyone, games of street lot football, baseball, and basketball were daily occurrences; tree-houses and BB guns were everywhere, and swimming, water-skiing, hunting, and fishing were favored pastimes.

After graduating from Lutcher Stark High School, he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a loved and respected member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and the Texas Cowboys.

John’s friendships from both high school and his days at UT, especially the bond with his fraternity brothers remained important to him throughout his life.

Before retiring, John worked in finance, budgeting, and sales with the City of Austin, Lower Colorado River Authority, the Texas Workers Compensation Insurance Fund and Corporate Health Plans.

John was a loving and kind man with a heart as big as Texas.

He loved his family and friends with a pure and joyous love, especially his son John Joseph Romano, who was according to John “The best thing I ever did.” John was also an outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing with his son and his friends.

John was an avid gardener and a wonderful cook.

He enjoyed orchestrating a sausage making party with his brother Tom every year.

He never met a stranger and it was not uncommon for him to end up with a new friend from a conversation in a grocery store check-out line.

John hated e-mail, texting, and other modern technology-driven ways of communication and instead much preferred getting caught up over a good long telephone conversation or an in-person visit.

His family treasures those conversations.

John is survived by his loving wife, Kristen; his beloved son, John; parents, Joe and Rosalie Romano of Orange; siblings, their spouses, and children, Tom and Barbara Romano (Ria, Nicholas, and Anthony) of Flower Mound, Mary and Michael Trocino (Mitchell) of Austin, Joy and Ken Miller of Houston, and Joey and Melissa (Mykal, Josh, and Damian) of Orange.

He is also survived by Kristen’s family, Kurt and Trixie Schnellenbach, his sisters-in-law and their families, Stacy and Bryan Bogle (Greyson, Tucker, and Wilder) and Teresa and Gene Munn (Kelly and Laura).

In addition to the immediate family, John will be sorely missed by his uncle Carlo Romano, his many cousins and their families, as well as his former wife, Dubravka Romano and her family, and his numerous life-long friends.

The family is grateful for the wonderful care provided by the ICU staff at the Lewisville Medical Center who did everything in their power to save John.

A rosary service will be held June 10, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange.

A funeral mass will be held at 3:00 p.m. on June 11, also at St. Mary Catholic Church, with Father Joseph P. Daleo officiating, followed by private interment of his cremated remains at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in the name of John D. Romano to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

Local arrangements under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.