HARTFORD – Lew Rome, who served as the chairman of the UConn Board of Trustees and was a state senator, has died.
Rome, a lobbyist who had an office on the Hartford, West Hartford town line, was active in the Connecticut Republican Party. He even ran for governor in the 1982.
Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano said in a statement, “There are few public figures over the last 40 years that have had such a tireless commitment to our state as Lew Rome, who exemplified all of the critical qualities of leadership: decency, patience and selflessness. During his tenure in the legislature, Lew Rome always made clear what he and his fellow Republicans believed in but he never crossed the line and made political fights personal. We could all learn a lot from the example Lew Rome set in his daily life – public and private.”
Gov. Dan Malloy said, “Lew Rome dedicated his career to public service. Whether as a leader of the State Senate or as chairman of the UConn Board of Trustees, he advocated for issues he cared about deeply. He will be missed by many throughout the state, and our condolences go out to his family and friends.”
Lt. Governor Wyman said, “This is very sad news for Connecticut. While Lewis and I may not have seen eye-to-eye on every political issue, he was one of the most caring people I’ve known and he was deeply respected in government. His leadership on higher education leaves a legacy for Connecticut students, his work in the community resulted in a stronger capital city and improved healthcare in the region, and his public service set a strong example of advocacy. “
