Hobart and William Smith Colleges

11 July 2024 • Alums Providing Access: Romano '82 Endows Scholarship By Colin Spencer '19

Scholarship named after Joseph Romano’s father, who emphasized the value of a college education. 

In honor of his father for instilling the importance of education and for the impactful experiences he had at Hobart and William Smith, Joseph A. Romano, Esq. '82 has established the John N. Romano Endowed Scholarship.

The $125,000 gift will support an annual scholarship for a top student along with support for the Annual Fund. 

“I want to do anything I can to help defray the costs of attending college,” says Romano, who graduated with a degree in history from Hobart and William Smith and has held a career as a personal injury attorney. After graduating, he went on to earn a J.D. from the Albany Law School and opened his firm Romano at Law, which focuses on injury claims, workers compensation and accidents.

Romano says he was inspired to name the scholarship after his father, a U.S. Marine who served in China during World War II. After he was discharged, John Romano attended New York University and later earned a law degree at St. John’s University Law School with funding from the G.I. Bill. John Romano went on to serve as a lawyer in Yonkers for decades, helping his community until the age of 91. 

When Joseph Romano arrived at HWS, he says he needed extra support in his classes and Professor Emeritus of Art Elena Ciletti, former Assistant Professor of History and Religious Studies Christopher Vecsey and Professor of History Samuel Yamashita took him under their wings and helped him throughout his four years on campus. 

“My professors were very inspiring,” he says. “They cared about me and made learning interesting.”

In particular, he recalls how they helped him analyze books, breaking down the subjects and claims, and learn to write well-articulated papers. 

Romano says he doesn’t want the price of attending college to limit a student’s options. 

“Once you start knocking schools out because of costs, you get a lack of choice,” he says, hoping this new scholarship will create “financial freedom for students.”  

During his time at HWS, Romano was a member of the Hobart cross country team, served as a broadcaster for WEOS-FM, was a brother of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and served as a judge on the Student Court. He also worked as a study hall monitor and security guard. 

In his community, Romano is an active contributor to charitable initiatives and supports the Teamsters Local 456 in its fundraising efforts for local organizations including Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y. and Children's Hospital in Hastings, N.Y. A longtime supporter of HWS, he has hosted interns from HWS at his law firm and previously established the Joseph A. Romano '82 Endowed Scholarship in Honor of Samuel Yamashita and the Joseph Romano '82 Endowed Scholarship Fund in Honor of Elena Ciletti.