Former Bethel Park assistant principal remembered
Tears stained the photo album David Kuhn flipped through as he searched for pictures.
“It’s so hard to lose a best friend,” he said between sobs.
On June 15, Kuhn, the golf world, the WPIAL and the Bethel Park community indeed lost a dear companion when Jerry A. Roman, 63, passed away after a valiant battle with leukemia.
Roman was many things to many different people. He was a beloved husband to his wife, Terri, and a father to his daughter, Brittany, of Columbus, Ohio. Born March 23, 1953 in Rochester, he was the proud son of the late Walter “Beans” and Irene Roman. He was a brother to Robert (“Bobby”), who lives in Florida, and Richard, who resides in Ambridge.
“Jerry was such a wonderful man,” said WPIAL executive secretary Diana Rossman.
Rossman’s boss agreed. “Jerry was a tremendously giving person always willing to go above and beyond for those he worked with,” said Tim O’Malley, executive director of the WPIAL.
For 14 years, he served the students at Bethel Park High School as assistant principal. He prowled the sidelines and end zone during football games and was involved in all student activities, including attending all the musicals. He was the administrative appointee to the marching band’s annual trip.
According to Bethel Park athletic director Amy Scheuneman, Roman was deeply devoted to his students and the staff that he supervised.
“Jerry was a great man who had his priorities straight,” Scheuneman said. “He cared about the kids and wanted to see them all succeed. He supported their efforts and celebrated their successes. He was a true friend to those who knew him and his legacy of “Tough Love” will live on through those he mentored.”
For Kuhn, Roman, indeed, was both friend and mentor. No pun intended, they were linked by golf.
“He certainly played a role as an adviser,” said Kuhn, who is the coach at Peters Township High School. Roman served as a volunteer assistant and he was an instructor for the Indians’ junior classes. “But our friendship was so much more,” Kuhn added.
“Jerry was my big brother, and he guided me in becoming a good man, in raising my daughters,” Kuhn said. “He was there for me in every
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aspect of life.”
For Kuhn and Roman, life is golf. Roman coached with Kuhn when he traveled to Hawaii and Florida and the pair worked innumerable WPIAL and PIAA events together. “You two were a pair in and out of that cart you always shared,” texted Fox Chapel Brian Deal in a conciliatory message to Kuhn last week.
In 2002, Roman became further entrenched in golf as he was appointed to that WPIAL committee. In two years, he chaired the group and in 2010, he was appointed to the WPIAL Hall of Fame unit.
O’Malley acknowledged Roman has a passion for the sport and he was an advocate for high school golf throughout the state. “Jerry’s passion for the sport and those that played was unmatched,” he said. “Jerry Roman was the standard for WPIAL golf and his presence will be impossible to replace.”
Kuhn knows how hard it will be to replace Roman as WPIAL chairman. For example, Roman was able to land Oakmont Country Club as the site for this fall’s WPIAL golf championships.
From a personal standpoint, however, Kuhn will miss Roman’s generous heart and compassion.
“I will sorely miss my friend,” he said. “It will be the phone calls and reminders that he would give me if I didn’t check in with him every few days that I’ll miss the most.”