George E. Roman

Roman, George E.

George E. Roman, 79, passed away peacefully October 3, 2013. He had been residing at North Haven for about a year.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, October 12, 2013 at St. Stephen Church, 1401 Clark St., Stevens Point. Shuda Funeral Services, 3200 Stanley St. Stevens Point are assisting the family. Visitation will be Friday October 11, from 3:30 - 7:00 PM with the rosary to follow, at the Shuda Funeral Chapel. Visitation will also be at the church before the funeral on Saturday, from 9:30 - 10:45 AM. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.shudafuneral.com.

George was born May 3, 1934 in Wausau, WI, to Francis L. Roman and Catherine M. (Turrish) Roman. George was the oldest of four children. He lived in Marathon City until 1948 when the family moved to Stevens Point.

He attended P.J. Jacobs High School where he was a three - sport letter winner in football, baseball and basketball. In football he was first team all-conference and he was the team MVP for the 1951 state championship P. J. Jacobs Panthers. In addition, George was co-MVP of the 1952 state runner-up basketball team.

He graduated in 1958 from Central State College - Stevens Point (UWSP) where he was a four year starter in football. Serving as team captain in 1957, he was also first team all - conference as guard and linebacker in 1955, 1956, and 1957. The 1955 Conference Champion squad is still the only undefeated, untied team in school history. He and his brothers Fran T. Roman and the late David L. Roman all played on the UWSP football team together. George was also an outfielder and pitcher on the baseball team.

George became a teacher following in the long tradition of teachers which ran on both sides of his family. His father Francis was principal of Marathon High School for fifteen years. His mother Catherine, brother Fran, and sister Marilyn were also teachers as were his grandmother and aunts. All graduated from UWSP which used to be known as the Normal School/ Central Wisconsin Teachers College specializing in preparing teachers.

George began his teaching and coaching career in Loyal, went on to Bloomington and Seymour before moving to Wausau as teacher and head football coach at Newman High School. He left that position and went to Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids, 1969-1978 as a history teacher, assistant football coach, and head baseball coach.

He joined SPASH in 1978 as a history teacher, specializing in Cold War studies. George was head baseball and head sophomore football coach. His sophomore football teams were highly successful, posting an overall record of 121-35, which included two undefeated conference championship seasons.

He retired from teaching in 1996 with a total teaching career of forty-six years. George continued to coach baseball through the 2004 season.

During his time at SPASH as head baseball coach, he amassed a 420-110 record with several conference and tournament championships; including the state baseball title in 1979, 1987, and 1989, as well as state runner-up in 1984. Overall career-wise his teams won 60 championships: 17 conference, 29 regional, 11 sectional, and the above mentioned SPASH state baseball championships.

His teams made eleven trips to the Wisconsin State Baseball Tournament. He served as a West All- Star Summer Classic baseball coach in 1988 and again in 2003. George was a five-time nominee for Wisconsin Coach of the Year, named District 2 Coach of the year in 1987, 1988, 1989 and was named Wisconsin State High School Coach of the Year in 1989. He was also involved with Legion and Stevens Point Youth Baseball (SPYBA) teams.

George is in the Wisconsin High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and is considered the "dean" of Wisconsin baseball coaches with 526 wins and 180 losses; which until the spring of 2013, was the highest number of career wins for spring baseball in the state of Wisconsin.

He received the UWSP Coaching Excellence Award and is a member of the SPASH Athletic Hall of Fame, the Central Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, and UWSP Athletic Hall of Fame. Although awards are great, during his induction into the SPASH Athletic Hall of Fame Coach Roman said, "I am probably the luckiest guy in the world, I've had the privilege of doing what I love in the city that I love." Teacher, coach and friend Bill Blake said of George "He was an inspiration to me as a coach and in the classroom, and the way he conducted himself was something special." Coach Roman influenced thousands of students and ball players positively through the years - both on and off the field.

Aside from family, all the championships and wins, the thing George treasured the most was running into former students and ball players telling him how much he had impacted their lives and how much they appreciated and respected him. He truly believed he had fulfilled God's plan for his life.

His faith and catholic religion were extremely important to George. He even considered becoming a priest. He and his brother Dave began a men's Prayer Warriors group at St. Stephen Church which is still active today. He was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Michaels' Hospital and took communion to others in the community. He shared his faith with those he encountered.

On July 3, 1965, George married Virginia Nelson from Antigo. They were married at Holy Name Catholic Church in Wausau, who survives. George and Virginia were blessed with six children.

He is survived by four daughters Laura McKibben (Allen) and their children: Tyler, Mitchell, Dylan and Emerson. Deborah Schrank (Jay) and their children: Thomas, Ashley, and Allison. Christine Axley (Tim), Kimberly Roman-Kirklewski (Derek) and Bailey Roman, step-children Parker, and Sage; two sons: Thomas and Gregory. He is also survived by his brother Fran T. (Bobbie nee Bablitch) Roman, sister in-law Doris (nee Allen) Roman, all of Stevens Point and his sister Marilyn (Tom) Helgestad of Wisconsin Rapids. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Preceding George were his parents Francis and Catherine (Turrish) Roman, grandparents, and his brother Dave.

We want to especially thank the staff at North Haven Assisted Living and Heartland Hospice Services.

In lieu of flowers please designate memorials to: The George Roman Scholarship C/O Community Foundations 1501 Clark St. Stevens Point, WI 54481 or on-line at www.cfcwi.org. or to FSPAA (Friends of Stevens Point Area Athletics). Donate by mail to : FSPAA, P.O. Box 988, Stevens Point, WI 54481-0988 or visit www.FSPAA.com for more information.