Although Romano received only 15 percent of the vote, the race resulted in a lasting friendship between the two candidates. Pradel remembers frequently discussing city concerns with Romano, who maintained a close watch over issues in the City Council, Park District and schools. "He did nothing but positive things when he was running for mayor," said Pradel, who was able to see Romano a few weeks before his death.
"I said, I'm so happy I got to work with you and had a chance to know you." Romano had already tried to run for City Council in 1997, but was disqualified from the primary when he was charged with failing to meet petition requirements. Although he never held an elected office in Naperville, Romano regularly interacted with officials and wrote letters to The Naperville Sun on such issues as parking and youth gangs.
He even threatened to sue the city in 1996, after the City Council made a controversial decision to approve constructing a 440-unit apartment complex on the northwest side. A Northwestern University graduate, the 68-year-old spent his career as a self-employed accountant and lived in Chicago until he moved to Naperville. In addition to Nicole, he was father to three children from his first marriage.
Nicole remembers her father as a kind man who loved others and the city of Naperville, and who often bid farewell to friends and family with the words, "be happy." She said he recently had helped several young McDonalds employees find financial assistance for college after he had come to know them while frequenting the restaurant on River Road. "All the things my dad did for me, he did for other children, as well," Nicole said.
"As much as he was tired, he would always get out of bed and he was always willing to help someone else no matter what." A funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m.
today at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Naperville. Contact Paige Winfield at pwinfield@scn1.
com or 630-416-5275.
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