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Life Story / Obituary


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Edward Joseph Rom passed away from natural causes on August 29, 2021 in his home in Traverse City. He was born in Detroit on July 10, 1940 to Edward Ferdinand Rom and Lucille Algae (Gouin) Rom, the second child of four.

He describes his early life as a story of “the short and simple annals of the poor” with frugal, dedicated, and often very long, hard working days. This included helping to support his family after his father’s death in 1959 while putting himself through school. He earned a teaching degree from Wayne State University.

He taught in Detroit for several years and served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1963-1969. He also spent time traveling to the West Coast and to Central America before eventually moving to Traverse City in 1974. In Traverse City, he continued to dedicate his career to social services, overseeing the run-away program at Third Level Crisis Center. He pursued a correspondence degree in psychology and then served as a psychologist for Community Mental Health for several decades.

During that time he enjoyed raising a daughter, as well a cherished partnership in marriage to the late Martha Christensen. All this, though, was, as he described, “a prologue to the easy, comfortable days of full retirement,” which he enjoyed for the last two decades. Golfing, traveling, kayaking, sailing, reading, writing poetry, and lately, spending time with his grandson, were his joys.

He is survived by his daughter Elysha (Rom-Povolo) Davila, son-in-law Benjamin Davila, grandson Milo Davila, and many friends whom he considered family including the Baker’s.

A celebration of life took place on Thursday at his home. If desired, donations are suggested to Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan Third Level programs.

He wished for his obituary to end with this: “The solace of his life was to be the smallest of photons contained in a cloud, passing overhead, on a warm summer evening.”

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