Otto Romanino

Otto J. Romanino, 89 years old of Carmel NY passed away peacefully in the Montrose VA Hospital on December 5, 2025 after battling a long illness. He was born on April 26, 1936 in the Bronx NY to the late Anthony and Marguerite Romanino.
Otto is survived by his three loving children, Eric Romanino and his wife Maryanne of LaGrange, Donna Shea and her husband Tom of LaGrange and Lisa VanHouten and her husband Bob of Danbury; eleven cherished grandchildren, Eric, Melissa, Kristen, Meghan, Shannon, Erin, Mathew, Niki, Heidi, Tracy and Lindsay; as well as six treasured great grandchildren, Aubrey, Zoey, Lucy, Haley, Taylor and Otto. He also leaves behind his two brothers Robert Romanino (NY) and Thomas Romanino (NJ).
Otto grew up in Mt Vernon before moving to Lake Carmel NY in 1960 so that he could provide a better life for his family. Otto eventually settled in Kentwood Lake Estates in Kent NY, where he lived for 60 years. Otto worked as a production manager for a manufacturing company in Pleasantville moving on to American Pecco in Millwood as a procurement and inventory manager until his retirement in 2000.
Upon graduation from high school, Otto enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Rich. He was proud to have served his country and often talked about his shipmates and his time in the Navy. Otto was also very proud of being a Veteran. He very rarely missed Memorial Day and Veteran's Day celebrations. One of his proudest moments as a veteran was being on the Honor Flight to DC. Up until the time he entered hospice at the VA, Otto proudly wore a baseball cap with the navy logo and always appreciated people thanking him for his service.
Otto was very involved in the community from the time his family moved to Carmel. He was a Cub Scout Leader, Little League Coach, Chairman of the Kent Recreation Commission, elected as Councilman on the Kent Town Board, a member of the Putnam County Park Commission that formed Veteran's Memorial Park, a member of the Putnam County Republican Committee, and a member of the VFW Post 1364. Otto was a lifetime member of the Hudson Valley Ford V8 Club of America and was a founding member of the Carmel High School Dads Club. Otto's involvement did not stop there. He was a volunteer for the Carmel High School football team as part of the "Chain Gang", which he did for over 25 years. In 2003, Otto was appointed to the Board of Trustees and Treasurer of the Kent Public Library.
Otto was an active member of the Knights of Columbus where he was a 4th Degree Knight and was honored as Knight of the Year in 2023. In his later years, the knights became a big part of his life. He was loved and revered by his brother knights and the ladies auxiliary and they were near and dear to his heart.
Dad enjoyed life with his family and so many friends. He traveled to Europe and the US, took cruises and gathered for dinners. Wherever Otto went, he could strike up a conversation with strangers. He was respected and loved by so many. A few years ago, Otto did a "bucket list" trip to Normandy, France and Italy. It was in Italy where Otto was able to visit where his mother and father immigrated. Otto loved to hunt and fish with his friends. He enjoyed playing golf, reading history and non-fiction books and driving his prize procession, a 1940 Ford Sedan. He was lifelong Yankee fan and enjoyed watching high school football and wrestling.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made in the name of Otto J Romanino Scholarship Fund and sent to Our Lady of the Lakes Council # 6318 of the Knights of Columbus, 10 Fair St, Carmel, NY 10152.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Cargain Funeral Home, 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Otto's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at St. James the Apostle Church, 14 Gleneida Avenue Carmel, NY.
Following Mass, Otto will be escorted to his final resting place at Raymond Hill Cemetery in Carmel, NY. There will be a graveside U.S. Military Honor Guard Ceremony.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc., 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512, 845-225-3672, www.cargainfuneralhomes.com.
We at Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc. are deeply committed to responsibly responding to the health, well-being, and needs of the families, guests and communities we are privileged to serve.