Peter Willemse Roome, 91, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 31, in Vero Beach, Fla.
Born on Nov. 29, 1925 on the corner of Milbank and East Elm Street in Greenwich to Reginald and Gabrielle McQuaide Roome, Mr. Roome spent much of his life residing in Greenwich, but also lived in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Lake Forest, Ill., and Wayzata, Minn.
Mr. Roome is the last of his generation in his family; he was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Gabrielle; and brothers William J. Roome and Reginald Roome Jr.
Mr. Roome attended Greenwich Country Day School and Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, Mass., where he excelled at sports. After graduating from Andover in class of 1944, Mr. Roome volunteered to serve in the Navy on the USS Flint, where he survived the World War Two battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima and the invasion of Luzon in the Pacific theater.
At the end of the war, Mr. Roome returned to Ohio State University to participate in the Naval Officer’s Training Program, where he met his beloved wife of 45 years, Mary Alice Shaw.
He then went on to graduate from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Most of Mr. Roome’s career was spent in the packaging and furniture industry where, later in his career, he was president of Englander Mattress, U.S. Bedding and Mica Corp.
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Roome was an investment advisor at Prudential Bache. After the death of his loving wife, Mary Alice, in 1992, Mr. Roome was later remarried to Phyllis Jones Stitzer until her death in 2015. Together they enjoyed summers in Osterville, Mass., and winters in Hobe Sound, Fla.
Mr. Roome volunteered for various organizations, such as the Hobe Sound Community Chest, Boys and Girls Club of Hobe Sound, and the Greenwich Red Cross. Mr. Roome was a consummate golfer who enjoyed the constant challenge and companionship of the sport.
In his last year of life, Mr. Roome moved from Hobe Sound to Vero Beach, where lived a happy and rewarding life among dear friends. Mr. Roome was an exceptionally charismatic and warm gentleman with a dry wit and an endless curiosity for everything around him. He was an endearing and trusted confidant to all of his family and friends.
Mr. Roome loved football and was a devout New England Patriots fan. He was an avid business reader and loved talking about financial and business topics with anyone who would listen. He was always surrounded by warm and caring friends and a devoted family.
Mr. Roome is survived by his son, Peter Willemse Roome, Jr. of Portland, Ore. (daughter-in-law Marie Mulhall Roome, granddaughters Ashley McQuaide Roome and Courtney Taylor Roome), and his daughter, Barbara Roome Waleski of Lancaster, Penn. (son in-law Thomas Joseph Waleski and grandson Charles Roome Waleski).
Burial was private; a celebration of his life will be held at a later date in Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, donations to the VNA & Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 would be appreciated.
