Joseph Richard Romano
October 1, 1979 - June 25, 2016

Whether he was training a star NCAA football player or a neophyte middle school athlete, San Diego gym owner and coach Joseph Richard Romano had an infectious confidence in each client’s ability to attain his or her goals, a knack for diagnosing physical issues or problems and the ability to push people to achieve what they previously thought impossible. Romano, who owned and operated Lifelong Athletics, a fitness facility in Chula Vista, died in San Diego on June 25. He was 36.

A native San Diegan, Romano played varsity football for San Diego High School, receiving the team’s award in 1998 as the year’s “most inspirational player” and was named that year to the first team of the Eastern Conference’s all-league game. He continued to inspire athletes for the rest of his life, first as an assistant coach at San Diego High School for many years after high school, and later as a private trainer for countless athletes.

A number of those Romano trained went on to professional football careers, but he enjoyed working with kids just starting into sports, including inner-city youth who were struggling to stay out of trouble. He worked for a time with severely emotionally disturbed children and as an “intervention teacher,” counseling students in danger of flunking out, using sports as a way to inspire discipline and focus.

“People need structure in their lives and Joe provided that,” said Ken Wilmesherr, a long-time teacher and coach at Grossmont College and Sweetwater Union High School District who knew and coached with Romano for more than a decade. “He was tough. The kids need that dose of reality. Joe’s going to tell you what you need to know, not what you want to hear.”

Romano touched the lives of thousands of kids over the years, Wilmesherr said.  Despite the demands of operating a gym and training private clients, each year Romano joined Wilmesherr in running offensive line camps for youth athletes, many of whom went on to great achievements in the sport. Romano was determined to overcome the kids’ obstacles to help them see they could achieve, he said.”Joe had a big heart. If a kid couldn’t afford something, it wasn’t ununsual for Joe to get out his own wallet.”

Romano had the knowledge and ability to coach “at a much higher level – intercollegiate or even the pros,” said lifelong friend Andrew Arter, who played football with Romano at San Diego High School. Romano, he said, constantly read and learned more in his field, and understood kinesiology (the study of body mechanics)  “at a level very few high school coaches could approach.” Though he pushed those he trained for maximum performance, Arter said Romano’s primary emphasis for those he trained was avoiding injury.

Thomas Kiff, who worked as a trainer for Romano at Lifelong Fitness, said what he’ll remember most about Romano was his ability to spark motivation and confidence in others. “Joe would put his full faith in someone he was training almost immediately. Then it was up to that person to accept that faith in them, and act on it by working hard to be worthy of it.”

Romano is survived by his mother, Karen Iannone of Temecula, California; a sister, Roselyn Romano of San Diego; a nephew; and many cousins, aunts and uncles. He was predeceased by his father, James Romano. Hundreds were in attendance at a funeral Mass held on July 13, at St. Brigid Parish, 4735 Cass St., in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego, with Msgr. Raymond Kirk presiding, Msgr. Donald Webber as homilist and Andrew Arter as eulogist.