ANTHONY, Romuald (KI6CI)
Obituary
February 13, 2011 12:05 PM
ANTHONY, Romuald
(December 17, 1917 - December 28, 2010). Rom was born in Chicago,
Illinois of immigrant parents. His father died early in his life and was
raised for several years by his single mother and was required to leave
high school to go to work. During the deep depression he attended and
paid his way through YMCA Evening High School to obtain his education and
was admitted to University of Chicago where he graduated in 1944 with a
B.S. in Physics. Rom came to California in 1945 to work for the Naval
Ordinance Test Station in China Lake in optical instrumentation and
research. Following his work with the NOTS, he entered private industry
and created the Infra Red and Optical Laboratory at Convair in San Diego.
Later Rom was General Manager for Photo-Research in Hollywood and finally
came to Santa Barbara with Electro-Optical Industries until his
retirement in 1998 at the age of 81.
Rom participated in community activities to encourage high school
students in their pursuit of careers in science, music and the arts. In
San Diego, as Vice-president of the committee for San Diego Hall of
Science and Industry, he created the Meet the Junior Scientist group.
Later Rom was the General Chairman of an Arts Festival in Santa Monica,
where he encouraged teen groups to present their talents playing kitchen
utensils to create music. In Santa Barbara, he organized the annual High
School Photographic Salon exhibitions. The exhibitions brought out 265
students participants.
Rom enjoyed photography and was president of the Goleta Valley photo club
for two years. His prints were exhibited in galleries in San Diego, the
Channel Island National Park headquarters, in Santa Monica, Manhattan
Beach, and in New York. He was also an avid HAM radio operator with his
wife, Barbara, and was on call to render emergency services in Santa
Barbara area for fourteen years.
Rom is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Barbara, his two
children, Jean Pedersen of Ojai, CA, and Karl Anthony of Encinitas, CA,
along with five grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. No services are
scheduled at this time.