Stanley Roman

Stanley F. Roman was a skilled professional and a devoted family man. He put his mind and hands to work as an engineer and his heart and soul into life with his wife, children and grandchildren. The lure of travel took him across the continent while his love of family made a home of beauty and liveliness. Stanley truly enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest.

Stanley was born in Hamtramck, Michigan on March 29, 1930, the fifth of Antoni and Stephanie Roman’s nine children. Months earlier, the U.S. stock market had crashed and countries around the world began to experience long years of scarcity.

Still, Stanley’s childhood was filled with the joy of adventure and industry. Charles Lindbergh had made his historic transatlantic flight in 1927 and Henry Ford’s mass production of the automobile was putting Detroit on the map. “Stash” (Polish for Stanley, and what his family called him) loved cars and he and his brothers put a lot of their youthful energy into building model airplanes, a precursor to his eventual career choice. Even a serious injury to his femoral artery while he was building one plane didn’t deter Stash from pursuing engineering studies.

Stanley began his working life as a teenage paperboy, delivering the Detroit Times. He had other jobs over the next few years and helped contribute financially to the expenses of the large family he grew up in. Because of this, Stanley didn’t graduate from high school and eventually got drafted into the army for two years during the Korean War. He trained in Hawaii (where he hated the mongooses!) and then served as a P.O.W. guard in Korea. Stan excelled to the rank of Corporal during his tour of duty from 1951-53. When he was discharged and returned home, he worked on the factory line for General Motors. During this time he met and eventually married Eleanor.

Being highly motivated and not wanting to work in a factory the rest of his life, with the blessing of Eleanor he earned his GED. He then went to drafting school for two years, followed by two years of study at Lawrence Institute of Technology near Detroit, where he earned his Associates Degree in Engineering. Stanley did all of this while working full-time and supporting Eleanor and their first two daughters, Debbie and Linda, who were 9 and 11 when he graduated, with Veronica due to be born a few months later. Stanley then worked as a draftsman at General Motors Hydra-Matic Transmission Division in a career that would span 43 years.

Adding to the success of his life was a lovely young woman Stash met on a blind date arranged by a friend who would become his best man. Stash fell in love with Eleanor and the two married in winter, February 12, 1955. As if perpetual newlyweds, the couple often visited Niagara Falls in winter to marvel at the frozen cascade of water.

Stash and Eleanor liked to travel, and when they became parents, their children joined the venture. Debbie, Linda and Ronnie experienced the Great American Road Trip when the family journeyed by automobile across the United States. With Eleanor, Stash drove to Arizona to visit her family, and on another vacation, he and his youngest daughter took a flight to Hawaii, his old military stomping ground. More modest trips with the family included the local apple orchard, and over time, it became a destination spot for Stash and his grandchildren.

Stash loved spending time with his grandkids, whether playing games and trains or celebrating their birthdays and graduations. He also revelled in the out-of-doors, working on his lawn and garden. He grew vegetables and flowers, most notably sunflowers. No matter what Stash was doing, he liked sharing it with his loved ones.

On Eleanor’s 82nd birthday, Stash was enjoying his favorite activities with his favorite people. The family had come to his house to celebrate by watching the Air Show and the Blue Angels. Because Stash and Eleanor lived by Willow Run Airport, everyone had an excellent view right from their deck. After the show, Linda decided it was time to take her dad for a ride in the Cadillac she had picked up from work. Naturally, as a retiree from GM, Stash was always curious to ride in the newest models. Approximately three miles from the house, he commented on what a nice ride he was having. Then he closed his eyes and passed away, just as a bomber plane flew overhead. That was Stanley’s last ride, and ironically it came on the same date his father and sister-in-law had died some years earlier.

Stanley Roman, age 85, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2015 after spending a beautiful day with his family. Loving husband of 60 years to Eleanor. Beloved father of Deborah (Michael) Lang, Linda (Robert) Whiteaker and Veronica Roman. Cherished grandfather of Erin, Sarah, Brian, Andrea, Alex, Erica and Benjamin. Dearest brother of Henry, Chester, Richard and the late Joseph, Edward, Jean, Sophie and Walter. Family will receive friends Thursday 3-9 PM at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 45100 Warren Rd (Btwn Sheldon and Canton Center Rds) with a Scripture service at 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, 11 AM at St John Neumann Catholic Church, 44800 Warren Rd, Canton. In state 10:30 AM until mass begins. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers family suggests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.