Romaldo P. "Rom" Roscioli

Romaldo P. "Rom" Roscioli, 89, of Shepard Rd., a well known restaurant entrepreneur, passed away Sunday, May 30th 2010, in his home after a long illness.

He leaves his wife of 67 years, Marjorie F. (McCann) Roscioli; four sons, Daniel M. Roscioli and his wife Virginia of Fiskdale, Richard J. Roscioli and his wife Linda, David F. Roscioli and his wife Karen, and Stephen M. Roscioli, all of Sturbridge; a daughter, Romona P. Kirker-Head and her husband Carl of Sturbridge; 10 grandchildren, Kacey Roscioli, Gina Arsenault, Nicole Barron, Daniel Roscioli, Michael Roscioli, Sarah Roscioli, Billy Roscioli, Annie Roscioli, Mackenzie Kirker-Head and Georgia Kirker-Head; 5 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Angelo Roscioli and a sister, Katherine A. "Rena" Desforges.

He was born in Southbridge, the son of Constantine and Armida (DeAngelis) Roscioli.

Rom worked for the American Optical Co. in Southbridge before starting his entrepreneurial career with a variety store on Moon St. in Southbridge. He had operated the variety store for approximately 3 years when in 1952 he opened a hot dog stand along Rt. 131 in Sturbridge, serving his soon to be famous foot-long hot dogs and soft serve ice cream, the first in the region. After a few years he added a dining room to the stand, and then another dining room, and it grew to the 600 person capacity Rom's Restaurant. The business was famous for being an affordable family style restaurant, well known for its Italian food and Wednesday Night Buffets. The large restaurant became a rite of passage as a source of employment for many of the area's young adults. At one time Rom's had nearly 180 full and part time employees.

Rom was a member of the Tri-Community Exchange Club and the NRA.

His warm heart and generosity touched many people in many ways through the years. He was a recipient of numerous awards for his charity and support of the tri-area community.

In 1975 he pursued his second passion and started the Ross Haven Farm in Sturbridge where he bred and raised Thoroughbred race horses. He was an avid race horse fan and enjoyed going to the race track. He was a member of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and in 1998 he was recognized nationally as Massachusetts' Outstanding Thoroughbred Breeder of the year. Rom was also an avid hunter, raising beagles and enjoying many hunting trips to Anticosti Island, off the coast of Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 2nd, from the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. Anne's Church, 16 Church St., Sturbridge. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Southbridge. Calling hours in the funeral Home will be held on Tuesday, June 1st, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Center at Harrington, 100 South St., Southbridge, MA 01550.

www.morrill

funeralhome.com