NATICK: Lee Romanow, age 95 (or as Lee would say, “in my 96th year”), a longtime prominent Natick attorney, passed away peacefully at his Natick home of 61 years on Saturday, July 23, 2016. He was the devoted husband of the late Mary L. (Rozak) Romanow for 59 years.
Born, raised and educated in Boston, son of the late Morris and Pearl (Urrows) Romanow, Lee, the youngest of 6 children, was a graduate of Boston Latin School. He continued his education at Dartmouth College, and as he was finishing his Bachelor’s Degree enlisted with the US Army. During the war he served overseas in North Africa and Italy as a forward observer in the 34th Infantry Division with the 151st Field Artillery Battalion, and post war as a public relations officer. The five Romanow brothers all served in the war concurrently and fortunately all made it back home again.
Lee then enrolled at Harvard Law School, earning his law degree. His earliest employment was with a Boston law firm and he shortly thereafter partnered with an associate to open a general practice in Natick in the early 1950s. In the mid 1960’s he had a solo practice and in the late 1960’s he partnered with John Mullahy until the late 1970’s. In 1985, his son Michael joined him and the firm became Romanow and Romanow. Like so many hard working individuals of his generation, Lee never lost interest in the practice and was ever ready to lend advice or meet with a longtime client.
A great gardener, Lee also had a passion for cooking and loved sharing meals with family and friends. He and Mary enjoyed travel in any and all directions, but were happiest surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
Mary died in 2008 and Lee is survived by their four children, Dean Romanow and his wife Ellen of Waltham, Louise Rozak Romanow and her husband William Swallow of Cary, NC, Michael M.T. Romanow and his wife Elizabeth B. Knight of Westwood, and Emily J. Romanow and her husband Duncan McAuley of Plympton; their adored grandchildren, Lee, Alissa, Jeffrey, Natasha, Amy, Curt, and Sophia; and many nieces, nephews, and their families. He was also the brother of Cyrille Flax and David, Henry, Allan, and Irving Romanow, all of whom predeceased him.
Services were private. Donations may be made in his memory to The West End House, A Place To Turn, Rosie’s Place, or a charity of your choice.