ROMEO, Dr. Michael Angelo B.A MD DMR FRCP (Can)

July 19, 1936 – January 30, 2025

In his 88th year, Dr. Romeo passed away at the Hamilton General Hospital, a place to which he devoted his life and loved, having worked there as a radiologist for over 40 years. In his last days, he was surrounded by family, with his daughter at his side when he took his final breath.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 62 years Mary (nee Farrell), his daughter and son-in-law Carolyn & Stephen Czuba, and his grandchildren, Victor and Samuel. He will be dearly missed by his brother and lifelong best friend, Ron Romeo and his wife Joann, and by his large extended family, and friends and colleagues too many to count.

Michael was born at home on Sheaffe Street in the north end of Hamilton in an Italian neighbourhood, to Josephine (nee Montani) and Salvatore Romeo. He loved the north end because everyone knew each other and you could drop into anyone's house for a snack if you were hungry. There were about 40 other children to play with and there were aunts and cousins in every few houses. His Aunt Annie owned the general store, and the kids could count on her to provide candy. He was a very good swimmer and he and his friends would occasionally sneak into the nearby orphanage to go for a swim in their pool. In a summer’s day they would ride their bicycles out to hidden valley or down to the bay to swim. He later became a lifeguard. He went on to Cathedral Boys High School where they discovered his talent for math and encouraged him to be an engineer, but he was determined to be a doctor. He studied at the University of Toronto, first at St. Michael’s College where he met many friends who remained his friends for life. He went on to medical school where he excelled, and found he loved both the subject and the practice of medicine. He met his wife Mary when he was in his 4th year of medical school, and she was in her 3rd year of nursing at St. Joseph’s in Hamilton. They had an instant connection, and he proposed marriage only 2 weeks after they met. Two and a half years later, they were married in her family parish in Port Colborne, and they have hardly been separated since.

Mike returned to Hamilton where he practiced family medicine in the North End for almost 2 years and then decided that Radiology was an interesting developing specialty, so he went back to Toronto for 4 more years to become a radiologist. Once again, he chose to return to Hamilton though he had offers in Toronto and across southern Ontario. He truly loved the city of Hamilton, and he was extremely impressed by Dr Harald Stolberg and his vision for the department. He loved his work as a radiologist, and he stayed on for 40 years. When Harald retired, he chose Mike to replace him as Chief of the Department. In Mike’s own words “Being Chief is like being the conductor of an orchestra, getting the best out of each member yet the whole group acting as one.” He was an excellent leader, having a head for both medicine and business, and being a perennial people person. He was beloved by his staff, and they kept his lab coat hanging in the department long after he’d left, reminiscent of a retired sports jersey hanging from the rafters of an arena.
Mike was someone who woke up each morning in a good mood and he had boundless energy. He held no grudges. He was a voracious learner who picked up new passions throughout life. Whenever Mary introduced him to a new subject, he wouldn’t stop studying it until he was really knowledgeable. When he became interested in Gothic Architecture, he was not satisfied until he had visited every Gothic Cathedral in France.
After a long day at the hospital, Mike would spend evenings attending operas, symphonic concerts, or art exhibits. As much as he cherished Italian music, his favourite symphonic composers were Beethoven and Dvorak. He travelled the western world to attend performances at the great musical venues and art galleries of the United States, France, Austria, Italy and Germany. He was a very kind and generous man, and he shared his appreciation of travel and the arts with a large group of friends. He and Mary had wonderful memories of the European opera trips they took with their friend Ines Freitag, attending performances and festivals almost daily.

Over the years he received many awards for his work as a volunteer in the Arts including the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction, The Incite Foundation Award, as well as the Dofasco Award for his support of Opera Hamilton. He joined the board of Opera Hamilton and served as president from 1985 to 1987. He stayed as chair of Corporate Fundraising because of his passion for maintaining the company’s artistic quality, which could only be done with the support of generous donations. He was an amazing fundraiser for the arts and part of his success was due to his infectious enthusiasm.

Like his mother before him, Mike was incredibly social and loved meeting and talking to people. He spoke to everyone he encountered whether he knew them or not, and he made friends easily. He was a real family man, and he had hundreds of aunts, uncles and cousins and their families in the Hamilton area. As a result, it always seemed like he knew someone everywhere he went.

He married into the Farrell family 62 years ago and it was love at first sight all around. His new family loved Italian culture, and he loved their Irish sense of humour. Until his last days, his brother-in-law Mike Farrell took him out to lunch to try new restaurants in the city. Annual trips to Florida were a family affair. These trips involved so much fun and laughter with Mary’s sisters Izzy and Cathy always present, brother Ron and Joann always dropping in, and Carolyn and her family and friends making guest appearances.
He was a great neighbour, always willing to help in any way he could but he was no handyman and whenever he said, “I’ll fix that” Mary and Carolyn ran to hide the wrenches. Mike & Mary’s home was always open to everyone so that on Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, one might find Lincoln Alexander, and a few opera singers along with various family and friends around the table. This last Christmas dinner will always be a cherished memory, with family and friends around, as Mike grilled his grandsons about their schooling, a favorite topic because of the value he placed on education. Mike always liked a full table with lots of conversation.

Mike cherished his only daughter, Carolyn, beyond measure, taking her everywhere with them to immerse her in the culture and art that he loved. Mike was a born shopper and connoisseur of the finer things, and he found joy in buying the perfect gift to surprise his daughter, be it a life size stuffed hippo when she was a child, or a new coat every year at Christmas. His devotion also extended to Carolyn’s closest friends, who also became like family, most notably Justine Fedak, Shelagh Howard and Tara O’Connell. When Carolyn married Stephen Czuba, whose father, Ted Czuba, had been in Mike's medical school class, Stephen and his family became an important part of the ever-growing circle of loved ones.
He was deeply devoted to his two grandsons, Victor and Samuel. After his retirement, he loved picking them up from the school bus, always eager to hear about their day and what they had learned. Each year when they would arrive in Florida, he couldn’t wait to see them racing down the ramp in the Naples airport, excited to see their grandparents. Whether stocking their treasure chest with just the right toys, or taking them on adventures to the beach, the park, or out for burgers, he cherished every moment spent with them. His love and presence in their lives will never be forgotten.

Throughout all of this, Mike’s wife Mary was his constant companion, his confidante and his biggest champion. She was the one who introduced him to many of the cultural experiences he came to love, and together they joyfully worked together to promote cultural experiences in the city of Hamilton. They never fought because they were of like minds on nearly everything, and people loved to be around them because of their enthusiasm and generosity. Mary’s devotion to Mike was absolute, and it was through her support and care that he was able to stay in his home and enjoy his life right up until the end. He loved his home and lived in the same house for 52 years, only leaving it when the ambulance took him on his last trip.
Mike's legacy is one of love, dedication, and a lasting impact on both his family and his community. As a devoted father and grandfather, he cherished his loved ones with unwavering affection, always offering wisdom and guidance. His marriage to Mary was a testament to his deep commitment and love, creating a partnership built on shared values and mutual respect. Professionally, as a respected doctor, Mike touched countless lives, offering compassionate care and making a profound difference in the community he served. Beyond his medical career, his passion for the arts, especially opera, was a defining part of his life, bringing joy and culture to those around him. Mike’s presence, both in his family and in his community, will be greatly missed, but the mark he left will never be forgotten.

The family would like to welcome everyone who knew Michael to attend a Celebration of Life to be held in the spring, with details to be shared at a later date. There will be a small private funeral on Friday, February 7th at Bay Gardens Funeral Home (1010 Botanical Drive, Burlington). Burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (600 Spring Gardens Rd, Burlington). Donations in his memory can be made to the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Art Gallery of Hamilton or the Boris Brott Festival.

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