Lewis Rome

Rome was a lifelong advocate for the University of Connecticut. As a legislator, he championed the establishment of the UConn Health Center in the 1970s. After quitting politics, he served on the Connecticut Department of Higher Education Task Force (1984–86) and on UConn's Task Force on Athletics (1986–89).^[8] Rome was rumored to be a candidate for UConn president in 1990, though Harry J. Hartley was ultimately appointed.^[9]

In 1992, Governor Lowell Weicker appointed Rome chair of UConn's board of trustees. Serving until 1997, Rome was instrumental in securing passage of the UConn 2000 legislation, which committed $1 billion in state funding to renew the university's infrastructure. Over time, he also developed a strong working relationship with Hartley.^[9] The Lewis B. Rome Commons building and ballroom on UConn's Storrs campus was named in his honor.^[8]

Rome was at the center of a major push to move the New England Patriots to Hartford. He called for the building of a new football stadium to be used by the UConn Huskies, as well as by the Patriots. Although the move fell through, the Huskies did get a new stadium at Rentschler Field, built in 2003.^[8]

Rome also advised the Mohegan Tribe during the 1990s, providing legal and lobbying support in the tribe's successful bid to achieve federal recognition and build the Mohegan Sun casino.^[10]

Rome was Jewish.^[11] He died following a long illness on July 1, 2015, and was interred at the Beth David Cemetery in Wethersfield, Connecticut.^[12]

Rome was married twice. In 1954 he married Ann Kathleen (Nicolle) Rome, with whom he had four children; David, Deborah, Richard, and Thomas. The couple divorced in 1990. Rome remarried, to Kristine (Payne) Rome (1947–2011). When Lewis Rome died in 2015, he was survived by his first wife and all four of his children.^[4]