TORRINGTON – A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial for Daniel (Danny) R. Romero, 64, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15, 2019 at Saint Rose Catholic Church with Father Andrew Duncan officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.
Danny died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, at UC Health-Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colo., after courageously succumbing to a long battle with cancer. A rosary will be read at 6 p.m. Thursday at the church. Visitation will be at the funeral home Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. and the casket will be open at the rosary.
Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Society at St. Rose Catholic Church. Arrangements are by the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Danny was born July 16, 1954, in Torrington to Louie and Virginia (Martinez) Romero, the fourth of six children. He attended the Goshen County Public Schools and graduated from Torrington High School in 1972. He was a voracious reader as a very young child and continued this interest in reading in his undergraduate and graduate degree programs of study. In 1978 Danny graduated from Chadron State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. On May 15, 1985, he received a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (emphasis in reading), from the University of Wyoming.
Following the receipt of his Master’s Degree he was employed at Faulk Middle School, Reading/Language Arts Department, Brownsville, Texas. This experience proved to be a very affirming and rewarding professional experience, from which Danny gained deeper insight – by a highly dedicated teaching staff – into the educational needs of children living in poverty. He was praised by the Department Head, Judith Rodriguez, for being an asset to the school and to the Department of Reading and Language Arts for his ability to relate well to the children he taught.
Danny continued to enjoy his teaching career, working with teachers, staff, and students at Dupont Elementary School, Adams County School District No. 14, Commerce City, Colo., and Roosevelt Elementary School, Scottsbluff, Neb. Summers included many years of service to the Goshen County Summer Migrant School. While a member of the Colorado Education Association, Daniel served as a CEA Legislative Liaison. All-in-all, his professional teaching experience spanned an approximately 35-year period.
Danny married Anne Gardetto, and to this union his precious daughter Nina – the light of his life whom he loved very much – was born. She was indeed the center of family life, which was often filled with conversations on education and social issues. Danny was raised in a strong cultural extended family setting, enjoying the many family traditions, including holiday dinners and family get-togethers. He particularly enjoyed partaking in his mother’s homemade cream pies.
He enjoyed watching sports, playing cards, dominoes, backgammon – favorite family forms of entertainment – with his family. He also enjoyed playing pool and bowling in his younger years.
Danny was community oriented and worked over many years with various projects to assist in the development of his home community. He was also known to make himself available to lend a helping hand and support to anyone who might need or ask for his assistance. He was a former member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Society of St Rose, where he served as Vice-President.
Danny is survived by his daughter Nina and her husband Tommy Grubbs of Lingle; granddaughter Laney; grandson Baron; brothers Ruben (Marie) Romero of Torrington, Ronnie (Linda) Romero of Denver, Colo.; sisters Esther (Jim) Castillo of Scottsbluff, Becky Eisenbarth of Cheyenne and Gloria Barrientos of Cheyenne. He was also blessed with several nephews, nieces and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father Virginia and Louie Romero.
Family, friends and former coworkers are cordially invited to attend a funeral dinner following the funeral mass and graveside services at St Rose Social Hall.
