He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and at age 5 he moved with his family to Hamilton, Ontario. His early life was highlighted by a boxing career that led to the Ontario light-welterweight Championship, and the 1952 Helsinki Olympic trials. After the trials, Peter remained in Vancouver to work in the logging camps for three years. While he loved the beauty of Vancouver Island he missed Marion, whom he met during his boxing training in Sudbury, Ontario. His heart led him back to Sudbury where he and Marion wed on November 19, 1955, and they remained married for over 70 years until his passing. In 1958, Peter and Marion purchased 1232 Homewood Drive in Burlington where they resided for nearly 60 years. He started BrenMar cleaning services, and worked very hard, five nights a week, for 47 years with few breaks in between. When Peter was not cleaning his banks, Tallman Bronze and orthodontist offices, he maintained a lifelong passion for fishing. He also coached hockey, baseball, played cards, blues harmonica, and Risk, and he loved to laugh- often to Monty Python, much to the dismay of Marion and Brenda.
Peter Romanow was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Paulina, and his brother Phillip. He will be missed by his wife Marion, his daughter Brenda Smith (Tim Andrews), his son Darryl (Sandra). He is also survived by his grandchildren Diana (Shawn), Jeanette (Brian), Kyle (Helena), Stephen (Maddy), Natalie (Andrew), and Larissa, and, five great-grandchildren Jayden, Logan, Meredith, Henry and Nora. His extended family includes Dave and Emily (Jordan) and Phoenix, Azlyn, Dominic, Maxson, Aurora and Lincoln.
A Celebration of Life for Peter will be held from 12pm – 2pm on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Billingsley Funeral Home, 430 Ravenscliffe Road, Huntsville, Ontario, P1H 1L7. A service will follow at 2pm in the funeral home chapel.
