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Lawrence D. Romboski

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Professor emeritus, California University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Lawrence D. “Larry” Romboski, 75, professor emeritus, California University of Pennsylvania, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. He was born February 19, 1938, in Washington, a son of Lawrence and Pauline Popeck Romboski.

He graduated from Washington High School in 1955 and from Washington & Jefferson College with a degree in mathematics in 1959.

While at W&J, he lettered in basketball for four years. He started in all 73 games during that period and held the career scoring record for nine years. In 1956, he set the W&J single-game scoring record with 43 points against Bethany, which still stands. In 1992, he was inducted into Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He was initiated into the W&J Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Upon graduation, he received a regular U.S. Army commission and served as a lieutenant from 1959 to 1962. He successfully completed both paratrooper and ranger training. For two years, he was stationed in San Francisco, where in addition to his other duties, he co-captained the National Army Air Defense basketball championship team.

Dr. Romboski was an instructor at W&J from 1962 to 1964. It was at this time that he fell in love with college teaching. He pursued graduate studies on a full-time basis for the next five years in order to become a college professor. He received a master’s degree in mathematics education in 1965, a master’s in statistics in 1967 and a doctorate in statistics in 1969. All of his graduate work was done at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. At Rutgers, Dr. Romboski received a National Science Foundation academic year scholarship his first year and a one-year grant from NSF. During his last year at Rutgers, he held a full-time faculty position.

In 1969, he became an associate professor at California University of Pennsylvania. His promotion to full professor in the mathematics and computer science department came in 1972. This is the position he held until his retirement in 2002. From 1973 to 1976, Dr. Romboski was the editor of the Journal of Quality Technology, the statistical journal of the American Society for Quality. He was a member of the American Society for Quality, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the American Statistical Association, Mathematical Association of America and Sigma XI, a scientific honor society. He made presentations at regional meetings of MAA, NCTM and ASQ. He also worked on a part-time basis as a statistical consultant and trainer in quality-control methods, experimental design and statistical computer analysis. U.S. Steel, Snap-On-Tools, TAT and DELCO Electronics were among his clients.

In 1975 and again in 1976, he was honored with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Exceptional Academic Service Award. Larry received the CUP Alumni C.B. Wilson Distinguished Faculty Award in 1989. In 1997, he received the university’s Excellence in Teaching Award. At the annual CUP Gala in 2007, he was honored with an Emeriti Faculty Award. He also received the Dixon Award for meritorious service from the Foundation for CUP in 2007.

For many years, Dr. Romboski and wife Joanne were members of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish leadership team. They enjoyed traveling, attending the Civic Light Opera and going to various musical concerts. They shared a love of gardening and were both certified Master Gardeners. As a team, they delivered Meals On Wheels for several years. In addition, they were avid fans of Cal U. basketball and their beloved Steelers. They were Steelers season-ticket holders. They delighted in their three children, five grandchildren and dear friends who brought great joy into their lives. He especially enjoyed his Tuesday get-togethers at the math department retiree luncheons.

On April 18, 1959, Dr. Romboski married Joanne Kapsi, who survives. They have three children, Joyce (Chris) McKnight of Venetia, Lynn (Chris) Messman of Georgetown, Mass., and Larry Jr. (Rose) of Cranberry Township, and five grandchildren, Michael Messman, Mollourthy Messman, Macy McKnight, Lindsay McKnight and Alexis McKnight. In addition to his parents, deceased is his sister, Jean Hepburn.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, River Walk Corporate Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Dr. Lawrence D. and Joanne K. Romboski Scholarship Fund at California University Pennsylvania; or The Brownson House, 1415 Jefferson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Mariscotti Funeral Home, Wood & Fourth, California, PA 15419, where prayers will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 25. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. in St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, California.

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