Northern California - RIP Romano...

Back in August when Heather (aka hetr) came to visit the Bay Area we went on a tour around the Bay Area. Another new visitor to the Bay Area was Romano. He was new to cycling and truly loved it and I believe he began riding with the Santa Rosa Cycling Club. Although I only rode with him on this one ride I could see the joy and excitement he had for cycling.

I found out this weekend that he recently passed away due to a massive heart attack. He left a wife and a kid and was only in his 40's or so.

It's sad to see someone so full of life have his life cut short. Please pray for his family.

RIP Romano! My prayers are with you and your family.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1279/1290104327_7eee7337ec.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1359/1290949252_e2bf51ebdd.jpg
Romano, Me, Heather, Russ and Jim

RIP, sorry to hear the sad news. :(

Awww that sucks. Big time. The good thing is, is that you all got to meet him and do something with him that he really liked.

I am saying my prayers.

What was cool about Romano was his attitude and excitement towards cycling. He was like a kid on his new bike and he chugged it up the hills of SF like a trooper. But I guess he started riding just a little too late.

I know at the beginning of last year I was turned down for extra insurance coverage by my old company because of a blood test that showed I was at risk for heart problems! Shocked the crap out of me because I thought I was in relatively good shape and there isn't a history of heart disease in my family. Soon thereafter I started riding my bike and in just a couple of months of riding I lowered all those values and was in much better heart health than I was just a few months earlier.

So you could say that cycling litereally saved my life. Unfortunately for Romano God had different plans for him. I just wish I was able to ride a few more times with ya man!

Thanks for your good thoughts Paula and Siu!! :)

I never met Romano but its always sad to hear of anyones passing. My thoughts and prayers to his loved ones.

RIP Romano. Was he on a bike when it happened?

RIP Romano. Was he on a bike when it happened?

From what I was told, no he wasn't.

I found the post on my cousin's club website: http://veloclubmiwok.blogspot.com/2007/10/romano-leonardi.html The stroke apparently happened around the beginning of October:

"It was quite a shock to get a call from Tom Peterson (Santa Rosa Cycling Club) telling me that Romano Leonardi had suffered a massive stroke and died this past weekend. Some of you may be asking, "Who is Romano?". Look at the Tour de Golden Gate post from August 26. Romano, an active cyclists with the Santa Rosa Cycling Club, saw our ride on a web site and came out to take Russ' great tour of San Francisco. Romano told me that enjoyed the trip and was quite excited about bringing his family back to share some what he had seen and experienced. He also posted a kind comment on the blog. I, too, was looking forward to seeing him again on another ride sometime.

Romano was 48. He left three children and his wife, Nancy. It is really sad."