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Frank Romano Is Turning 80!

Written by Jim Hamilton | Jun 14, 2021 4:22:28 PM

 

Did you know that industry pundit, printing professor, and prolific author Frank Romano will soon reach his 80th birthday? As part of an ongoing celebration, the Museum of Printing (where Frank is President) is celebrating “A Year of Frank” in his honor. For more information, check out the museum’s press release and then start thinking about what you might be able to do to help Frank mark this momentous occasion.

 

 

I can’t remember exactly when I first met Frank Romano in person. Of course, like many others in our industry, I knew who he was for quite some time before meeting him. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, I spent seven years working for Linotype and his magazine TypeWorld was required reading. It wasn’t until I left Linotype (by then it was Linotype-Hell, and about to become Heidelberg Prepress) that I really got to know Frank. I was a newly hired Senior Consultant at CAP Ventures, and Charlie Pesko sent me to cover a Polaroid press event in New York City. This event was particularly memorable since Polaroid had hired New York Yankee great Yogi Berra to speak to the gathered editors and market analysts. I know Frank was there because I’ve seen a photo of him with Yogi Berra in front of a Polaroid sign—and I have one exactly like it!

Later on, I remember sitting next to Frank on a tour bus at an analyst briefing. We got to talking and I realized how much we had in common, including having worked at Linotype and sharing a love of print. We also share a connection to Rochester Institute of Technology, where I received my Master’s Degree in Printing Technology. I was at RIT in the days before he started teaching there, yet over the years I (and many other alumni) enjoyed the gatherings that he hosted at his home when he lived in the South End of Boston.

CAP Ventures later became InfoTrends, and has since merged with Buyers Lab to become Keypoint Intelligence. When I retired from my full-time position in 2017, I offered to volunteer at the Museum of Printing. Because I live about an hour and a half from the museum, I wanted to find something I could do remotely, so I said I could help with social media. Before long, I was offered a spot on the board. During my time volunteering for the museum, I have seen just how important it is to Frank—and even more importantly—how much Frank does every day to help the museum achieve its goal of "preserving the rich history of the graphic arts, printing & typesetting technology, and printing craftsmanship."

I hope I can count on you to help make Frank’s 80th birthday celebration a truly special one. If you’re seeking inspiration, I encourage you to read the Museum of Printing’s press release and act on one or more of its recommendations:

  • Let’s Share a congratulatory message on social media. For example, The Year of Frank has begun! Join in and celebrate the legacy of Frank Romano and his 80th birthday. Info here: https://museumofprinting.org/news-and-events/frank-turns-80 #HappyBirthdayFrankRomano
  • Share your Frank Romano stories on social media using the hashtag #HappyBirthdayFrankRomano
  • Send a birthday card to Frank in care of the Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01832
  • Send a birthday e-card to Frank at info@museumofprinting.org.
  • Become a member of the Museum of Printing (see museumofprinting.org/join-us/ for details). The museum's newsletter is one of the great benefits of membership and is something folks can enjoy even if they don’t live nearby.
  • Make a financial donation to the Museum of Printing to help with its annual expenses and contribute toward an endowment. Look for the big red DONATE button on the upper right-hand corner of the Museum of Printing's website at museumofprinting.org.
  • Contribute to one of Frank’s favorite initiatives, the Linotype Legacy Fund (also accessible via the DONATE button on the Museum of Printing’s website)
  • Donate artifacts to the museum. You may have a piece of printing history that should be shared with the world, and the Museum of Printing would love to have it!
  • Volunteer! The museum can always use an extra hand on site, and there are also some projects that folks can help with remotely.

Here’s wishing Frank many happy returns, and thanks for your support!