Francis (Frank) Donald Romanski, 91, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2026, in Ocala, Florida. Frank was born January 22, 1935, at home in Archibald, PA to parents Veronica (Mroczka) and Frank Romanski, Sr. Frank attended public school in Mayfield PA. The family moved to Bayonne, NJ in 1941 and they welcomed his brother Richard to the family in 1942. Frank attended Bayonne High School where he played basketball and tennis. Frank met his wife Catherine Pilken during high school while they were both members of the Catholic Youth Organization. They married in 1955. Frank worked part-time, as a draftsman and lab technician, while attending Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT) through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program. He received a scholarship from the Polish University Club. He graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering Class of 1958. The family welcomed two sons, Francis Thomas and James Stephen, during their time in Bayonne. The family moved to Texas so that Frank, now commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant, could start his service commitment in the US Air Force. Initially Frank reported to Moore AF Base in Mission, TX for pilot training. He flew T-28 Trojans advanced trainers and the T-33 Jet Trainer for the F-80 Shooting Star Jet Fighter. Frank transferred to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and a project engineering position at Carswell AF Base, Ft. Worth, TX. He was promoted to First Lieutenant by 1959. Their third child Gerard Craig was born in Ft. Worth, and their first girl, Lizabeth Marie, joined the family in 1962. On retirement from the Air Force, he was promoted to Captain. The family moved and settled in Wayne, NJ where they welcomed three more children: Mark, Joyce Suzanne, and Barbara Lynn.

After leaving the Air Force Frank returned to work as a design engineer and supervisor at Bendix Corporation. His projects included early laser rangefinder systems for military fighter jets and the Star Tracker project. After Bendix he worked for several companies including Kuras-Alterman Division of Raytheon, Singer-Kearfott and BAE Systems, on many military electronic programs for the USA military and NATO countries. He retired in 2005 to help care for his wife Catherine who passed away in 2012. In 2013 he attended his high school reunion and rekindled a friendship with his high school friend, Emily Felice. The pair married in 2014 and moved to Ocala, Florida in 2016.

Though Frank left the Air Force he never lost his love of planes and flight. He also had a passion for optics, telescopes, and photography. He enjoyed family dinners and holiday gatherings. In Wayne, NJ he was a member of the Flying Club and flew Radio-controlled planes at the Barbour Pond flying field. When he moved to Florida, he joined the RC Flying Club at the Top of World retirement community where he continued to build and fly remote-controlled planes. He also joined the Billiard Club, where he competed in tournaments and enjoyed playing pool with his wife Emily, and his children when they visited Ocala.

Frank is survived by his wife, Emily Felice, his brother Richard Romanski and by his children: Frank Romanski and his wife Audrey, James Romanski and his wife Patricia, Jerry Romanski, Lizabeth Romanski and her husband David Kornack, Mark Romanski and his wife Paula, and Barbara Bogley; fourteen grandchildren: Frank S. Romanski, Danielle Farrell, Stephanie Hardiman, Sydney and Nicholas Romanski, Keith Romanski, Juliana Meszler, Emily Kornack, Allison Romanski, Laura Romanski, Cassandra and Jessica Daley, Abigail and Grady Bogley; three great-grandchildren: Amelia and Fredrik Romanski and Margaux Meszler . He was predeceased by his wife Catherine in 2012, his daughter Joyce in 2020 and previously by his parents, Frank and Veronica Romanski.

Frank will be inurned at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL at a ceremony in August, with a memorial service in New Jersey in the fall.