Simon Roman - Obituary

imon J. Roman “Sy” (Age 88) Sy passed away April 28 at Collington Retirement Community in Mitchellville, MD after complications with congestive heart failure. Born in Peckville, PA, on Jan 5, 1929 to Simon Roman and Anna Sopchak, he was the youngest of ten children and affectionately called “Junior.” Proud of his Ukrainian heritage, he was a faithful member of his “Ukie” church, enjoyed singing in the choir and loved to polka. His career reflected his passion for travel from his time in Trinidad with the USAF, to assignments at both the North and South Poles while working in the fields of meteorology and oceanography with NOAA. A highlight was working in Antarctica from 1963-64 where he raised both the Ukrainian and Pennsylvania flags at the geographic pole. In his retirement he visited Europe, Ukraine and Russia and eventually all fifty states. He is survived by his children Christine, Kenneth and Alicia Roman (George Fox) as well as nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to Sy's Celebration of Life at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill RD, Oxon Hill MD on Friday, May 13 from 2 to 4 p.m., and on Saturday May 13, from 9 a.m. until time of Funeral Liturgy at 10 a.m., at The Ukrainian Catholic Church National Shrine of the Holy Family, 4250 Harewood Rd NE, Washington D.C.. Interment on Monday May 15, 2017 at 10:15 a.m., at The Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Hwy, Cheltenham, MD 20623. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ukrainian National Shrine