Remembering Capt. Jere Romano

At Hollywood American Legion Post 43, veterans and friends honored retired Santa Monica College Police Captain and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jere Romano at a Celebration of Life held by his wife, Martha Romano.

An American Legion member salutes the unfurled flag held by the Marine Corps Color Guard on the theater stage. The flag was refolded and presented to Jere Romano's wife, Martha Romano.

(L-R) Santa Monica College (SMC) Foundation President Dr. Lizzy Moore and SMC Veterans' Resource Center Student Services Specialist Martha Romano. Dr. Moore helped the Romanos establish four scholarships for student veterans at SMC, funded annually by the American Legion Ronald Reagan Palisades Post 283. Moore said, “I started in 2013, which was a very poignant year for our institution at Santa Monica College because we had an active shooter on our campus. And Jere, who was on duty, ran towards that to protect all of us. And so I have always felt so protected by Jere. And that is the energy, and the love and the life that he brought to Santa Monica College, and that we all got to experience. And so I’m just so grateful and that giant light is absolutely still here and will always be with us. And I really feel just blessed to have known Jere and to call him family. So - thank you.”

American Legion Post 43 First Vice Commander Monica Nichelson reads words from her partner, Alan: “Jere didn't just hold titles. He embodied the virtues that they represented... As the officer of law, he was the protector. Not just by profession, but by nature. ... He lived with open handed generosity.”

Retired U.S. Army Col. Arnold V. Strong.

American Legion District 14 Commander James “JD” Bennett, Romano's aide when Romano was Department Commander of the American Legion. “He was larger than life,” Bennett said, noting that people seemed drawn to Romano. “He kept that leadership ability and those skills throughout battling cancer as a department commander. When he felt like giving up, when the doctors told him, ‘slow down,’ when Martha told him, ‘Don't go’... He says, ‘I have to accomplish what I set out to accomplish.’ And that was part of his unwavering devotion to this department.”

Sons of the American Legion among veterans, friends, and family of Jere Romano.

Vietnam War veteran David Graham (center) exits the theater alongside American Legion Past Department Parliamentarian Gary Leach (right) and other veterans.

Sons of the American Legion stand in flowered blue shirts while Martha Romano speaks.

U.S. Navy Veteran Bel Jacob speaks during the luncheon reception. Jacob said Romano persuaded him to take on leadership roles, especially within national club organization Student Veterans of America, and convinced him to join the American Legion, where Romano sought to bring in more young veterans. Jacob said, “He kind of had that ability [to] find those parts of you for leadership. And he saw something in you that you didn’t see in yourself. … I feel like my whole career direction now is kind of in that direction because of Jere. Jere was a really, really big mentor in my life, which is the reason why I came today.”