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Weekly Bulletin April 16, 2023
by Terrie Evans
Our San Antonio Church Community send their condolences and prayers to the Romelli Family in the passing of Patrick Nicholas Romelli Sr. on March 28, 2023, at the age of 83. Pat was raised in the Little Italy section of South Fairmount at 2164 Queen City Avenue with parents, the late Joseph and Caroline (Bonaventura) Romelli, sister Fern (Romelli) Roberto 1931-2010, older brother, Roy Romelli 1934-2022. The Romelli Family spent their time in South Fairmount supporting San Antonio Church and connecting with cousins from the Smeraldo, Ventre and Di Stasi families. There were many Sunday gatherings held on Biegler Street to unite the large Bonaventure family members for homemade Italian dinners followed by horseshoes and a good game of poker played by the men. Patrick was 11 years old, and Roy was then 17 when their big Sis, Fern wed a young man from the neighborhood, Louis Roberto on April 4, 1951, forever uniting another big Italian family to the Romelli clan. Patrick would attend Western Hills High School with other first generation Italian Americans from Lick Run and graduate in 1958. He married Mary Ann Thomas at the age of 22 and was wed for 61 years before his passing.
During those early years, Patrick would graduate from the Central Academy of Commercial Art and work as an illustrator in the advertising field in commercial design and pre-digital illustration. Being very talented, Pat went on to start his own business that flourished over the years. During this time, Pat also designed our new San Antonio Marquee for the church’s 75th Anniversary and the dedication of the Memorial Brick Garden. He then started a new venture by creating hundreds of paintings sold at galleries and shows sponsored by Arts Wave in Cincinnati while working from a studio overlooking Music Hall and Washington Park, places that gave him much inspiration. During the month of April in 2016, Pat showed his new works that connected the “lush intensity of 19th Century Impressionism” with scenes of Cincinnati and works from his travels abroad.
Pat once established residence in the lush location of Tuscany that inspired much of his new work especially the depiction of a Fishing Village in Italy. In 2018, Dale Wolf wrote in the style of Patrick Romelli for the Cincinnati Art Club saying his paintings express many emotions from his broad strokes and use of color. In all his paintings, Patrick Romelli captures the physical beauty of each subject in the impressionist style as he did for the 100th Anniversary beautiful likeness of San Antonio Church that we offered for the fundraiser to benefit our church. He captured the true essence of our building as he did in the many Cincinnati scenes such as Union Station, Washington Park, the Delta Queen and Zips Café. Another beautiful work is the 18×24 signed oil painting of the Gazebo and Fountain in Eden Park. His work has been enjoyed and hangs in many homes throughout the country.
Patrick loved his family and being a father to Jennifer (Steve) Turman, Caroline (Mike) Waddle, Patrick (Tawnya) Romelli and Thom (Diane) Romelli and their families. His grandchildren Frank (Emily) Turman, Alex (Gabby) Turman, Margaret Turman, Jessica (Justin) Multhauf, Michael (Danielle Rains) Waddle, Jackson (Sarah) Romelli, Audrey Romelli, Grace Romelli, Rocco Romelli, and Elise Romelli. Patrick was a very hands-on Great Grandpa to Avery Turman, Brooks Turman, Cecilia Turman, Louisa Turman, Jonah Waddle and Juniper Waddle. He also leaves many family members from his brother Roy and Barbara Romelli’s and Fern and Lou Roberto’s Families (Lou Ann, Gina, Tina, Vincent. He also played the piano, accordion, jazz and jamming with his brother Roy and kept the friends he nurtured since childhood. Patrick Romelli will be missed by all he was a true renaissance man. The Romelli Family held a private Funeral Service at Spring Grove Funeral Home on Friday, April 7, 2023, with a memorial Mass held at San Antonio Church in the near future. Please keep their family and friends in your prayers.
There are plans in the making for the Annual “Mussie Fest” to be held on Friday evening, April 28th. The men of San Antonio Church will welcome parishioners, family members and new and old friends for an evening of good food and memories from the old neighborhood. They will remember those who have passed, especially Bob Studt and Roy and Pat Romelli. The dinner costs $20 a person and can accommodate only 125 men so please plan soon for the yearly event. The Mussie Fest supports San Antonio Church so please call Dave Sabatelli at 513-405-6444 to make a reservation.