John M. Roman, journalist extraordinaire, died last week. He was 73. John worked for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin and the Delaware County Daily Times. He was the author of the mystery novel “Ink in His Blood” set in Philadelphia.
John was likely the first journalist who gave extensive coverage to Nicholas Yarris, who spent 21 years on death row for a rape-murder in Upper Chichester before being exonerated by DNA tests.
Phil Heron, his editor at the Times, has written a touching tribute.
When I walked into the Delaware County Daily Times newsroom here in beautiful downtown Primos for the first time back in 1982, one of the first people I met was John Roman. He stuck out his hand and offered a hearty welcome to the new guy who was shaking in his boots as he braced himself for the challenge of being the dayside city editor at the Daily Times.
I knew John well.
He will be sorely missed.