Mary Roman

American athlete (1935–2020)

Mary Barboza Roman (September 9, 1935 – March 23, 2020) was an American senior Olympics athlete and community leader.

## Early life

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Born Mary Barboza in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of a nurse and a railroad construction worker. She was the eldest of three children. The family lived in the Berkshires, where some of their cousins, including Lynda Jean Gunn,[1] occasionally modeled for illustrations by Norman Rockwell.[2] Mary graduated from Williams High School and Springfield College.[3]

## Athletic achievements

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After contracting polio as a child, Roman was advised to do English-style horseback riding as it would strengthen her legs. "I guess it worked," she later said.[4]

Beginning in 1989, encouraged by her husband's competitive swimming athleticism, Roman competed in senior track and field events.[2] She competed in sprints and jumps, but excelled in throwing events such as javelin and shot put. A heart attack in 2003 did not stop her from continuing her athletic pursuits.[5]

In 2009, she competed in the New England Regional Outdoor Track and Field Championships, winning four gold medals in the women's age 70-74 category; the Masters Outdoor Championships, where she won three gold medals, a silver and a bronze; and the Senior Olympics (Senior Games), where she won a silver. The Fairfield County Sports Commission named her Norwalk's Sports Person of the Year for 2009.[6] In 2017 she received a donation from the Fairfield County Sports Commission to support her participation in the World Masters Games in Australia.[7]

By 2014 Mary Roman had won more than 250 medals and was ranked first in the United States in the women's age 75-79 ultra-weight throw, super-weight throw, and weight throw; and eighth in the world in the latter. She also held the U.S. record in the shot put in the women's 65–69, 70–74, and 75-79 age groups.[2]

## Community and family

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Roman identified as African American, although her mother was Native American and her father was of Portuguese descent. She married Granville Roman in 1953 and moved to Stamford, Connecticut. They soon bought a house in Norwalk, where they raised five sons. Granville died in 1999.[3]

Roman worked in banking, advancing from teller to an executive position before going to work for the City of Norwalk. There she served as Assistant City Clerk and City Clerk under three different mayors.[2] She ran unsuccessfully for Town Clerk in 2009.[8]

Her community volunteer activities included serving on many boards and commissions, including the Norwalk Senior Center, STAR, Rotary Club, and the city's Charter Revision Commission.[2][9]

In recognition of her community service and athletic achievements, in November 2024, Norwalk renamed the track around Malmquist Field, located on the city hall campus, for Roman.[10]

## Death

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Roman died from complications of COVID-19 in Norwalk, Connecticut, on March 23, 2020, at age 84.[11] After her death, Roman was featured in a COVID-19 memorial segment on PBS television.[12]

## References

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1. ^ "Remembering Lynda Jean Gunn". Norman Rockwell Museum. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
2. ^ a b c d e Albano, George (4 February 2014). "Celebrating Black History Month through Norwalk sports: Roman a standout in Senior Olympics". Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
3. ^ a b Steinhauer, Jennifer (5 April 2020). "Mary Roman, City Clerk Who Set Senior Shot Put Records, Dies at 84". New York Times. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
4. ^ Jacobs, Jeff (28 March 2020). "'Everybody loved her': CT senior Olympian leaves lasting mark before succumbing to coronavirus". Retrieved 2 May 2020.
5. ^ Stone, Ken (24 March 2020). "COVID-19 claims Mary Roman, 84, who deserved to win throws medals into her 100s". Masters Track and Field News. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
6. ^ Albano, George (3 September 2009). "It wasn't 2008, but summer '09 still very good". Norwalk Hour. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
7. ^ Renner, Tom (1 January 2017). "Fairfield County Sports Commission Donates $45K To Community Programs". Daily Voice. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
8. ^ Koch, Robert (6 July 2009). "GOP taps Mary Roman to run for Town Clerk". Norwalk Hour. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
9. ^ Koch, Robert (16 January 2016). "Norwalk Charter Revision Commission begins work Tuesday; four-year mayoral term among topics to be considered". Norwalk Hour. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
10. ^ Lutge, Katherine (1 Dec 2024). "Norwalk's CIty Hall track renamed to honor late Senior Olympian, former city clerk Mary Roman". Norwalk Hour. Retrieved 2 Dec 2024.
11. ^ "Mayor: Former Norwalk city clerk and senior Olympian dies from coronavirus". 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
12. ^ Woodruff, Judy (1 May 2020). "Mourning some of those lost to COVID-19". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 2 May 2020.