Vincent John Romeo Jr.

Romeo, Vincent John Jr, age 76 of Xenia, passed away on Thursday, May 25, 2023. He leaves his wife of 19 years, Karen (Kromer) Romeo; three daughters, Lisa Romeo Ukleja and her husband Bryan, Isabel Katherine Romeo, and Alyssa Angelina Romeo; two sons, Vincent John Romeo III and Michael Joseph Romeo; three grandchildren, Joseph Romeo Elicessor, Sydney Kate Romeo, and Taylor Paige Romeo; mother Gudrun Romeo, and many close friends and ex-students. He is preceded in death by his father Vincent John Romeo Sr.

Mr. Romeo was born in New York City. Most of his formative years were spent in Elkhart, Indiana. He graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in 1965, earned a BA in English from The University of Notre Dame in 1969 and completed his MA in British and American Literature from Bowling Green State University in 1971.

Before embarking on his first teaching and coaching adventure, Romeo worked as a construction laborer, railroad brakeman, and undergraduate research assistant. He worked for 5 ½ years at Wawasee Preparatory School, a Catholic boarding school in Syracuse, Indiana where he taught English, world history, and popular culture. He served for two years as the school’s athletic director; coached football, basketball, and tennis; and served as a college counselor and a member of the disciplinary board. After the boarding school closed its doors in 1975, Romeo moved his teaching, coaching, and mentoring skills to The Miami Valley School, a college preparatory school in Dayton, Ohio. There he was English Department chairperson for thirty years, taught a variety of English courses and specialty courses in movie-making, sports management, and criminal justice. For forty years, he was the only varsity coach for boys’ and girls’ tennis. His over 1300 tennis wins rank him #1 in Ohio and in the top ten in the country. He brought boys' and girls' basketball to levels never reached before his tenure.

Mr. Romeo taught a variety of evening and summer English courses at Sinclair College for seven years as an adjunct faculty member.

Mr. Romeo earned recognition for his teaching accomplishments from Ashland Oil Company, the University of Notre Dame, and the Dayton Daily News.

Mr. Romeo was one of the founders of The Miami Valley Tennis Coaches’ Association for high school tennis coaches and players in the area. He also served on the Executive Board of Ohio Tennis Coaches’ Association for thirty years. Many awards and accomplishments dotted his successful teaching and coaching career. Mr. Romeo was honored by being named Coach of the Year on numerous occasions in the conference and district. He received his highest tennis award in 2013 when he was named National Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches’ Association. His greatest basketball accomplishment occurred in 1999 when he was named Division IV Basketball Coach of the Year. His final game as a basketball coach was a victory in the North versus South All-Star game. He was inducted into one basketball and four tennis halls of fame during his career, and earned two MVTCA President’s awards.

Favorite quote: “Never Rode Shotgun on a Hearse Before” (Steve McQueen to Yul Brynner in The Magnificent Seven).

Favorite passions: the Catholic faith, family gatherings, cruising with his wife and date night sushi, coaching his two oldest kids in multiple sport, watching his younger children play any sport, mentoring high school and college students, San Francisco Giants baseball, Notre Dame football and basketball, movies and television, reading, teaching anything, cooking, and writing poetry.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice of Dayton, St. Vincent de Paul Bed and Breakfast, Food Bank, or V foundation. www.tobiasfuneralhome.com