Stefan was an immensely loved, respected and admired member of our community. His huge impact — as an untiring and fierce leader, a mentor and advocate for community languages — was unmatched. His indelible skills as an advocate, communicator, collaborator, mediator and unifier brought immeasurable strength to the sector and to everyone he worked with. Upon his broad shoulders and wise guidance, the community languages sector grew and continued to thrive.

His involvement with community language education began in his youth. Mr. Romaniw, the son of Ukrainian father and mother, started out as a student the Ukrainian Community School in North Melbourne and went on to serve as principal of that Ukrainian school for 17 years! He received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his “service to education and language learning through the coordination and provision of services for people from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds.”

If it was inspiration you were looking for, Stefan was the person you needed to hear from. If you needed support, Stefan was always there serving passionately and coordinating at a national level. If you needed optimism, Stefan had a strong faith in creating a better tomorrow. In his own words in a recent interview Stefan said: "I like to be optimistic, I like to smile, and I like to joke because it creates a good atmosphere wherever you are.”

We, the Community Languages Victoria Secretariat (Fahry Abubaker, CLV Executive Officer, Neda Erjaei, CLV Child Safety & Compliance Officer, Heba El-Hakim, CLV Projects & Communications Officer and Mr. Tassos Douvartzides, President CLV Committee), offer our deepest condolences to the Romaniw family - wife Anastasia, children Peter and wife Stevie, Theresa and husband Jeffrey, and his many treasured grandchildren. We will support them through this intensely difficult time. Please join us in honouring Stefan’s memory and keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Rest in eternal dear Stefan 🌷❤️