HOULTON, Maine — A long time local physician and community leader has died. Dr. Paul Romanelli, 72, died Feb 9 at his home, according to his obituary.
Along with his work as a physician, Romanelli was heavily involved in community activities and also dedicated himself to public service. He was elected to the Houlton Town Council several times throughout his life, ultimately serving 13 years.
“This is a big loss,” said Trudy Bishop of Houlton. “He took care of my father for several years before he died. My father just loved him, and my family loved him for all he did to help my dad, who was struggling with cancer.”
Romanelli was born on Sept. 25, 1946, in Providence, Rhode Island. After high school, he earned degrees from Providence College and the University of Vermont School of Medicine, where he completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology. He moved to Houlton in 1976, where he maintained a private practice in internal medicine while also treating patients at a weekly oncology clinic, according to his obituary.
He also served as the director of medical affairs at Houlton Regional Hospital for more that 25 years.
While on the council, Romanelli served as chairman and advocated for preserving as much of Houlton’s history as possible while also exploring possibilities for new business and development. In 1997, he advocated successfully for a $3.5 million bond to renovate Houlton High School, and teamed with other councilors to oversee the construction of the Millar Civic Center after the former ice skating rink, the John Millar Arena, collapsed under the weight of ice and snow in early 1998. He also worked with fellow councilors to cultivate new contracts for cable service and solid waste disposal. A history buff and nature lover, he resisted efforts to cut down any of Houlton’s trees during construction or renovation projects, particularly the town’s elm trees and those that line the walking trail in Riverfront Park.
Morris Hayes, a former Houlton resident who now lives in Bangor, said Friday that he was sad to learn of Romanelli’s death.
“He was a really, really nice guy,” Hayes said. “We used to love to talk about baseball cards and root for the Red Sox. He treated a number of people I knew and looked out for the health of many others, even after he left his own practice to take over at the hospital.”
Romanelli also served on various boards in the community and was a member of the Anah Temple Shrine.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carlene Folsom Romanelli, two sons, Jamieson and Patrick Romanelli and their spouses, a brother, Richard, as well as grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
