Tony Roman

Anthony Roman Agr.Sc. (January 17, 1936 in Veľký Ruskov, Czechoslovakia – October 30, 1992 in Markham, Ontario) was a politician in Ontario, Canada.

The Honourable

Anthony Roman
Mayor of Markham, Ontario
In office
1970–1984
Preceded byAlma Walker
Succeeded byCarole Bell
Chair of York Region
In office
1984–1984
Preceded byRobert Forhan
Succeeded byEldred R. King
Member of Parliament
for York North
In office
1984–1988
Preceded byJohn A. Gamble
Succeeded byMaurizio Bevilacqua
Mayor of Markham, Ontario
In office
1988–1992
Preceded byCarole Bell
Succeeded byFrank Scarpitti
Personal details
Born(1936-01-17)January 17, 1936
Veľký Ruskov, Czechoslovakia
DiedOctober 30, 1992(1992-10-30) (aged 56)
Markham
Political partyIndependent
ProfessionBusinessman

Early years

Roman was born in Czechoslovakia and eventually settled in Canada. He studied agricultural science and was a businessman before entering politics.

Municipal career

Roman served as the Township Councillor (1966-1968), Mayor of the Town of Markham, Ontario from 1970 to 1984, Chair of the Regional Municipality of York in 1984.

Federal politics

In 1984 Roman was elected as an independent Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of York North from 1984 to 1988.

Roman won the 1984 election in York North largely because of the controversial views of Progressive Conservative MP John Gamble.

Because the PC and Liberal candidates were unpopular, community leaders asked Roman to stand as a "Coalition Candidate". Roman used the PC blue and Liberal red on his signs, and drew supporters from both parties.

He was one of the very few MPs in recent decades to be elected as an independent candidate in the House of Commons of Canada.

Return to municipal politics

Roman did not seek re-election to the House of Commons in 1988 but instead endorsed Micheal O'Brien as the Progressive Conservative Candidate. O'Brien was one of the community leaders who had convinced Roman to run as a "Coalition" independent in 1984. Roman was returned as mayor of Markham, defeating Carole Bell, who had succeeded Roman as mayor upon his appointment as York chairman in 1984. He was easily re-elected in the 1991 municipal elections.

Community involvement

Roman (along with financial backing from businessman Stephen Boleslav Roman) was instrumental in the design and construction of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, a large Slovak Byzantine church built on open land in northwestern Markham.[1][2]

Death

Roman died while still in office as Mayor in 1992.

Honours

Roman's name lives on in Markham:

  • Anthony Roman Avenue, a small residential street in Cathedraltown, Ontario
  • Roman Road in Thornhill, Ontario is most likely named after Tony Roman
  • Anthony Roman Centre - Markham Civic Centre
  • Anthony Roman Award
  • Tony Roman Memorial Tournament - ice hockey ended in 2013 after 40 years

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2008-08-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060818.wreal-mays0818/BNStory


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