Brian Joseph Romanek

Brian Joseph Romanek, 54, a resident of Jefferson, MD since 1998 and formerly of Davidsonville and Berwyn Heights, died April 11, 2011 at the Georgetown University Hospital.

Brian was born on November 30, 1956 in Berwyn Heights where he was raised. While attending Parkdale High School, he excelled in sports being a member of the 1974 MD state championship football team. After graduating in 1975, he attended Salisbury State University, where he played one year of varsity football. He also attended and graduated from the University of Maryland, receiving his Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees in 1979 and 1991, respectively, majoring in Recreation and Parks.

Brian met his future wife, former Theresa Mae Keeney, while attending high school and they were married in June 1982 in Greenbelt.

Brian began his professional career at the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service in the US Department of Interior. In 1983 he joined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission where he continued until his retirement in 2010. At FERC he worked as an Environmental Protection Specialist in issuing project licenses to hydropower projects around the country. Later in his career, Brian worked in the Office of Energy Projects as a Senior Environmental Protection Specialist in the Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance ensuring compliance with the license and exemption conditions and requirements. During his almost 28 years at the FERC, Brian became one of the Commission's experts in shoreline management issues, as well as recreation issues, around hydropower reservoirs. Brian was very active in the International Boating and Waterways Safety Summit, an annual conference attended by government and industry professionals interested in recreation and public water safety. He worked on hydropower projects throughout the country, especially projects in North Carolina and Georgia. Brian was actively involved with the hydropower industry and the annual shoreline workshops where he shared his institutional knowledge on hydropower compliance issues. Brian was also actively involved with public safety around hydropower projects and worked with organizers of the International Water Safety Summit and Hydro Public Safety Issues Group to encourage the sharing of public safety information.

Loving the outdoors, Brian was often found hiking and biking along the C&O Canal, canoeing the Potomac, and visiting various National Parks, especially loving the White Mountains in New Hampshire and Maine, and Green Mountains in Vermont. He also enjoyed the many family vacations, especially at the beach, and following his son's football and baseball games and his daughter's soccer and cheerleading activities. He often spoke to colleagues of the pride he had in the accomplishments of his children, Kyle and Lynsie. Brian's family is a member of Holy Family Catholic Church where he assisted with children's liturgy and the landscape committee.

Brian was preceded in death by his mother, Gail Ann Romanek and Aunts, Patsy Bailer and Sharon Starke.

In addition to his wife, Theresa, Brian is survived by his daughter, Lynsie Romanek attending West Virginia University; his son, Kyle Romanek attending Bethany College; his father, Joseph Romanek of Edgewater; his brother Scott and his wife Sissy and their three children, Alyssa, Paige and Zachary of Graysonville; his brother Wayne and his wife Lori and their three children, Michele, Mathew, and Marissa of Sunderland; his sister Leslie Schlossberg and her husband Joel and their 3 children Noah, Jack, and Abigail of Ellicott City; and his Aunts Barbara Keane and Linda Payne.

A private funeral mass will be held for family and close friends. Donations may be made to Georgetown University Hospital, CCC 4th Floor, Main 1, Hospital Administration, 3800 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington DC 20007.

Arrangements are by Keeney & Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick.