Romeo Geno Petroni

Romeo G. Petroni is the only native son to become a Superior Court judge during the 20th Century. "It's a demanding, challenging position that requires broad knowledge of the law, but at this point in my life, I'm ready for it," Judge Petroni said in May 1990 when he received the appointment.

Judge Petroni had lived 60 years in Ridgefield, but soon after the appointment, moved to the New Haven area. Born here in 1929, Judge Petroni graduated from Ridgefield High School, Syracuse, and Fordham Law School. He became town attorney in 1957 and a state representative in 1961, serving until 1967. In 1966, he made an unsuccessful run for Congress, but was always proud of the fact that at a fund-raising dinner in his honor, the speaker was Gerald R. Ford, then a congressman and minority leader of the House. From 1971 to 1974, he was state senator and in 1974 was elected Ridgefield's probate judge, a post he held for 16 years. In 1986, he ran for governor, but failed to get the Republican nomination. Oddly enough, he was nominated to the Superior Court by the man he would have run against, Democratic Governor William O'Neill.

Throughout his career in Ridgefield, Judge Petroni was very active in the community, and among other things was a director of the Boys Club and the Village Bank, served as a trustee of St. Mary's Parish, and belonged to the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Italian-American Club, Everett-Ray-Seymour American Legion Post 78, and the volunteer fire department.

He has received many honors, including Rotary Club Citizen of the Year in 1984. Judge Petroni continued to serve as a regular judge until he turned 70 in 1999, when he was named a judge trial referee, a part-time position in which he can be selected to preside over special cases. He and his wife, Catherine (daughter of Leo F. Carroll [q.v.]) live in Madison. They have three daughters, Carla L. Solberg, Elise C. Kamp, and Marissa G. Coor, and six grandchildren. And one sister Mary Hanrahan living in Washington, DC. 

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday August 7, 2015 at 12noon at St. Margaret Church in Madison. Swan Funeral Home in Madison has charge of arrangements.

For online tributes and condolences, please visit www.swanfuneralhomemadison.com. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield, 41 Governor St. Ridgefield, CT 06877.