HERBERT ROMERSTEIN Obituary

HERBERT ROMERSTEIN
Herbert Romerstein of Clinton MD, died May 7, 2013 at The Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, where he resided following a stroke. He was born in 1931 in Brooklyn, NY and has been a resident of Maryland for the past 40 years. He was employed by Congressional Committees and USIA for 20 years and since retiring has written several books and articles. He is survived by his wife, Pat; children, Shari (Scott) Hillman; David (Jamie) Romerstein; Vicky (Paul) King; and Becky (Les) Rhoads; 12 grandchildren; his brother Bill (Nora) Romerstein and a niece and a nephew. Graveside Services will take place at 11 a.m. today, May 9, 2013, at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, 9500 Riggs Rd., Adelphi, MD. In lieu of flowers a contribution to Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, Inc. under Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington Contract.

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Published by The Washington Post on May 9, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for HERBERT ROMERSTEIN

9 Entries

Jeff Moore

December 25, 2024

During Herb's later years with the USIA, I was a young colleague of his and learned a tremendous amount from him. I respected his intelligence, his integrity, and his decency. His research was excellent. We remained in touch after I left the USIA in 1993. Among my favorite memories are the lunches that we had after bi-weekly meetings at the State Department. A group of us would sit down at a restaurant and Herb's stories and insights were always invaluable.

Joe Combs

May 21, 2013

To David, Vicky and Becky,
I am sad to hear of the passing of your father. It has been a while, to say the least...but I remember Mr. Romerstein as a very kind man, never fully understanding that I was in the presence of a man who would be regarded one day as a "National Treasure". Please give my regards to your mother, as well.

Sincerely,

Wes Vernon

May 14, 2013

I am humbled to have known such a true, kind, generous, and dedicated patriot. Herb had a deep knowledge of this country's enemies. This earned him key intelligence sources throughout the world.They respected his expertise, for which he was appointed to high-level intelligence and counter-subversion positions in our government. One of a kind. My sympathies to Pat and the family.

Azza Zaki

May 13, 2013

Herb was a dad first and a boss second. It's an understatement to say he was a great man!!! A walking , talking historian with a great sense of humor and always with a smile. I am sure Herb has touched all of us in his own way, personally and professionally. What a loss for everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. I will miss you”dad”, may you rest in peace. My deepest condolences to Pat, the children, and grandchildren.

Jim Streeter

May 11, 2013

Friend, mentor, steadfast patriot. Herb's passing leaves a void in our ranks that cannot not be filled. My sympathies to Pat and family.

Nick Cull

May 10, 2013

I am so sorry to hear the news of Herb's passing. He was such a help to me when I was writing a history of the United States Information Agency in the Cold War and emerges as a major character in the Reagan-era chapter of that book. I think he made a real difference to US foreign policy, blunting the outrageous propaganda circulating at that time with indefatigable energy and a sense of humor too. His passing seems like the end of an era. My sincere condolences to Pat and his family.

May 10, 2013

Herb was a teacher not in the formal sense but by example. He had an encyclopedic memory for events and personalities.

Herb was gentle with people whose assumptions had not been tested yet. I was his press person when things were opening up in the Soviet Union. He opened my mind to the realities of the Soviet Union and its intent. Herb -- you are already missed. Bill

Todd Leventhal

May 10, 2013

Herb was one of the world's great men. It was an honor, privilege, and the opportunity of a lifetime to have him as a boss, mentor, teacher, and friend. We agreed on almost everything about the Soviet Union and other issues, but, on the few occasions we disagreed, Herb was invariably right, most recently about the Arab Spring. He not only understood communism better than anyone I know, he was also kind, generous, and a wonderful racounteur with a great sense of humor. He cast a jaundiced eye on the fecklessness and idiocies of bureaucracies. Some of his pearls of wisdom were, "The longer I'm in government, the more it strengthens my anarchist tendencies" and "You can't get in trouble for not doing your job." The corollary, of course, was you only run the risk of getting into trouble when you are genuinely dedicated to doing your job, as Herb was. I loved Herb and will miss him greatly. My deepest condolences to Pat, his much-loved daughters, son, and grandchildren, and to all his friends and colleagues who have lost a stalwart comrade.

Bill Houghton

May 9, 2013

My deepest sympathy to Pat and to all of Herb's extended family. At the FBI, I had the privilege to know and work with Herb for over 30 years. He was a patriot to his country and to all those he helped during the Cold War with Russia. May he Rest in Peace...

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