Anthony G. Romano

Anthony Romano, better known to his family, friends and colleagues as Tony, died on Monday November 1, 2021 at the age of 68. He died surrounded by love, as his wife Megan, and daughters Alexis and Alyssa, were all present at the time of his passing. Tony grew up in Connecticut with his parents and sisters. The middle child of five and the only boy, Tony was affectionately known as ‘Butch’ to his sisters and their children. While attending the University of Massachusetts for his master’s degree, Tony met Megan, and had the excellent sense to marry her. Tony and Megan were blessed with 43 years of love, two children, two grandchildren, and a very good grand-dog. Tony received his PhD from Ohio University and moved to Philadelphia after completing his post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Iowa. Tony then began his long career in higher education as a research assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1988. Tony taught at Drexel Medical School and its predecessor schools for more than 30 years. Tony served as a Year 1 and Year 2 Facilitator in the Program for Integrated Learning from the program’s inception, and then became Associate Director. He was a dedicated professor and continued to facilitate multiple groups of medical students each year. At the time of his death, he was the Course Director for Case-Based Learning in the Foundations and Frontiers curriculum and was Chair of the Admissions Committee. Over the course of his 33-year long career, Tony worked with hundreds of medical students in small-group, case-based learning, simulations and research projects. Tony was a loving and devoted husband and father. When his daughters were young, he spent his evenings and weekends with Megan, Alexis and Alyssa having family dinners and movie nights, and taking his family to the Philadelphia Zoo, the Schuylkill Center, and of course, Phillies games. Tony attended every one of Alexis’ and Alyssa’s youth softball games, as well as those of Alyssa’s much briefer youth basketball career, and coached Alexis’ softball team. He was also at every choir, orchestra, and band concert and Alyssa’s band cavalcades—no small commitment considering both of his daughters inherited Tony’s love of music. He was delighted to share a love of photography with Alyssa and proud of her ‘photographer’s eye’. In more recent years, most Saturdays found Tony having lunch with Megan at Capone’s Restaurant in Norristown, discovering new craft beers and evenings watching the Phillies game on TV (for better or worse). And every week Tony looked forward to his Sunday video calls with Alexis and her children, who live in New Jersey. Although these calls were ostensibly to talk to Alexis and catch up on one another’s lives, making silly faces and sounds and playing peek-a-boo with his grandchildren were clearly the highlight for Tony. Tony was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and teacher. He is and will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. Services will be held at Murray Funeral Home, 1220 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031 on Saturday, November 13, 2021 with visitation beginning at 10:00 am followed by a celebration of his life at 11AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to Project Home – Philadelphia.