Nicholas Romania

Nicholas Romania, age 92, a sixty-one year resident of Wayne, passed peacefully in his sleep on Monday, January 11, 2021.

He was born in Brooklyn, NY to Anthony and Catherine Romania and the family later moved to Paterson, NJ. Nicholas graduated from Eastside High School in Paterson with the Class of 1946.

Nicholas was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War and served in Panama for much of his service and he was honorably discharged.

During his high school years and after his military service Nicholas worked in the auto upholstery business in Clifton making custom seat coverings and convertible roofs for automobiles. Nicholas was the proprietor of Central Auto Top, 1059 Main Street in Clifton from 1965 through 2000 when he officially retired.

He will be remembered for being a gentleman that was easy-going and devoted to his family. He enjoyed playing guitar, practical jokes, playing checkers, horseshoes, cards, and old cars of the 1920’s and 1930’s. He was also a devoted NY Mets fan and loved to watch baseball games on television. Nicholas also enjoyed trips to Las Vegas but his conservative nature always kept him at the penny slots.

In 1952, Nick married his long time high school sweetheart, Eleanor Dorso. They first started dating when they were about sixteen, fell in love and were married at St Anthony's RC Church in Paterson and honeymooned in Miami, Florida. Nick and Eleanor settled in Paterson where two of their four children were born and in 1959 they moved to Wayne, where their next two children were born. Eleanor and Nick would call Wayne their home for the rest of their lives and would raise all of their children there.  Nick and Eleanor cherished sixty-six years of loving and loyal marriage together before her passing on February 20, 2018.

Nicholas was the loving father of Dr. Anthony Romania and his wife, Linda Talerico of Stonington, CT, two daughters Catherine Romania, Esq. of Wayne and Candy Romania of West Milford; 8 grandchildren; Nicholas Mattera, Jessica Mattera, Joseph Mattera, Thomas Mattera, Rachel Lyons, Christin Morales and her husband, Humberto, Jr., and Lindsey Brennan and her husband, Christopher; 4 Great-grandchildren; Antonio, Sergio, Bruce, and Isabella. He was the loved brother of the late Carmela Fragomeni and the late Rose Peretto; he was also loved by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his much loved son, Nicky Romania in 1994 and his adored granddaughter Sandra Mattera in 2011.

In lieu of flowers those wishing to make a donation in Nicholas’ name are asked to consider the memorial foundation that provides musical scholarships to Wayne Hills High School students to honor Nicholas’ late granddaughter Sandra Mattera.  Donation can be directed to the: Sandra Mattera Memorial Foundation Inc., Scholarship Fund, 26 Columbia Tpk Suite 100, Florham Park, NJ 07932. For more information about the scholarship fund please visit  https://sites.google.com/view/sandramattera