Publisher of The Taunton Press

1931-2024

Paul F. Roman, 92, died at his home in Newtown on January 5, surrounded by his loving family.

Paul was born in Aix-en-Provence, France, the middle child of the late Emile Roman and Dorothy Bridge Roman. The family moved to the United States in 1937, settling in Mamaroneck, N.Y., where Paul attended local schools. He graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1949.

Paul attended Middlebury College until January 1951, when he joined the US Air Force during the Korean War. His longest assignment was in Limestone, Me., where he inspected nuclear warheads for the Strategic Air Command. After four years of service, Paul returned to Middlebury College and completed his major in physics.

After graduation he joined Westinghouse Electric Corp., first in Pittsburgh, Penn., and then in New York City. After three years with Westinghouse he went to study physics in the PhD program at Yale University. It was in New Haven where he met his wife, Janice, and then left Yale to marry and settle once more in New York City, working for McGraw Hill on Electrical World magazine. This led to his later employment with the General Electric Co in public relations and government affairs.

In 1974 General Electric moved its headquarters to Fairfield, Conn. As part of that move, the Roman family moved from Port Chester, N.Y., to Newtown. The family had by then grown to four daughters and a newborn son, requiring larger quarters. It was a family project to clear the lot and build the house on Taunton Lake Road.

Restless in the corporate world, Paul began planning a magazine about his hobby, woodworking. There was little information available on the craft. Paul visited experienced woodworkers, convincing them to write authentic articles, and began publishing his new venture, Fine Woodworking magazine, in December 1975. In close partnership with his wife Jan, The Taunton Press was born.

Paul was a pioneer in special interest publishing. In an industry focused on serving advertisers, Paul focused on giving subscribers in-depth information and beautiful design. He created a community of practitioners who shared techniques with each other. All were welcome, from craftsmen like Tage Frid and Sam Maloof to hobbyists like himself. Instructional and design books soon followed. This reader-first approach continued with the launch of Fine Homebuilding, Threads, Fine Gardening, and Fine Cooking magazines.

Due to the talented staff, the reputation of The Taunton Press grew. The company expanded its offerings in books, videos, websites, and online classes, all from its offices in Newtown. Paul enjoyed chats with staff, always encouraging and offering opportunities for professional growth. He was an early adopter of new technologies, which allowed Taunton to thrive as an independent publisher. He retired from publishing in 2000.

Paul had an inquisitive personality and loved talking to people. He enjoyed transporting his children to music lessons, listening to classical music (and Frank Sinatra), photographing decaying industrial buildings, having coffee with his friends at the Hawleyville Deli, exploring back roads on weekend drives, taking portraits of family members for annual posters, and developing photo books in a darkroom overflowing with negatives and prints. Paul enjoyed vacationing on Cape Cod with his family, especially after the arrival of grandchildren, who developed close bonds from their shared experiences there. They could always depend on “GP” to get them donuts.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janice Ainger Roman, and his immediate family Melinda Roman and Douglas Clott of Newton, Mass., Andrea Roman and Thomas Gloria of Newton, Mass., Suzanne Roman of Newtown, Sarah Roman and Timothy Rahr of New Haven, David Roman and Julie McEvilly of Menlo Park, Calif., and niece Elissa Roman Farmer and Edward Farmer of Seattle, Wash.

His grandchildren are Andrew and Luna Clott, Allison and Scott Garber and great granddaughter Avery, Emily Clott, and Juice Roman; Nicholas Gloria, Patrick Gloria, and Isabelle Gloria; William Roman; Stephen Rahr and Lindsey Orne, Thomas Rahr and Sophie Towle, and Owen Rahr; Daniel Roman, Michael Roman, Natalie Roman; and Eli Farmer.

He is also survived by his brother-in-law Kenneth Ainger and wife Carol of Delray Beach, Fla., and many Smith, Baldwin, Ainger, Roman and Lachaud nieces and nephews.

Paul was predeceased by his sister Monique Smith, his brother Alain Roman, and his grandson Benjamin Roman.

Much beloved and respected, Paul will be missed at morning sunrises and evening dinner tables. Friends are invited to join family for a Celebration of Life in March. Details will be available through Honan Funeral Home. Donations in Paul’s honor can be made to The Newtown Scholarship Association, PO Box 302, Newtown CT 06470.