Americo R

Romero

Americo “Pops” Romero April 5, 1945 – September 6, 2026 Americo Romero, lovingly known as “Pops” to his younger friends, “Poppa” to his grandson Skyler, and “Rico” to his older friends, passed away on September 6, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 81.

Americo was born on April 5, 1945, in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. At the age of five, he moved with his parents, Americo Romero Sr. and his beloved mother, Eulalia “lala” Romero, to New York City, along with his siblings. New York remained his home for many years until he and his family eventually moved to Las Vegas in June of 1996.

In his early twenties, Americo answered the call to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany for three years, a chapter of his life he spoke about with tremendous fondness for the rest of his days. During his time there, he learned to speak German fluently and formed memories that remained some of his most treasured stories that he loved to share with the people in his life. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1968 and continued his service through the Army Reserves, where he remained actively enlisted until his military retirement in the early 2000s. Throughout his working life, Americo wore many hats. In New York City, he worked as a porter, corrections officer, and bus driver. After moving to Las Vegas, he continued driving, first as a city bus driver and later as a cab driver, until retiring in 2013. But perhaps the greatest story of Americo's life was the love story he shared with his wife, Carmen.

Americo met Carmen in 1976 while working as a porter in the building where she lived. According to Carmen, Americo would wax the floors in the hallway outside her apartment and intentionally bump the floor-cleaning machine against her door just to get her attention. Eventually, his persistence paid off when she finally decided to invite him inside for breakfast. When they finally went on a date, they began sharing stories about their childhoods. Americo asked Carmen where she had grown up. When she told him, he replied, “That's where I grew up. I lived that brownstone.”

They soon discovered something remarkable: they had actually grown up in the very same brownstone. As a child, Carmen had not been allowed to play outside with the children who lived there, but she was allowed to blow bubbles down to the children who lived in the basement apartment of their building she would blow the bubbles and the kids that were playing out side would try and catch them, Those children were Americo and his siblings. Americo later told Carmen that he had always wanted to play with the pretty girl who lived upstairs—but never got the chance.

Years later, life brought them together again. Carmen was the love of Americo's life. She passed away in 2005, and he never remarried because He never stopped loving her, and he carried that love with him for the rest of his life.

Americo was the proud father of three children Moriama “Mori,” Sean, and Jennifer, and he was a devoted grandfather to Marcitos, Chloe, Kameron, Stella, and Skyler.

In 2021, Americo suffered the devastating loss of his beloved son, Sean, who passed away from COVID-19. Sean's passing left a hole in his father's heart that never fully healed. Those who knew him could see that he was never quite the same after losing his son. He carried Sean's memory and his love for him with him until his last breath.

To his family, Americo was so much more than a father and grandfather. He was their protector, their helper, their constant, and their home. He was the kind of man who always wished he could do more for the people he loved, even though he had already given so much. He helped without being asked, loved without conditions, and gave without expecting anything in return.

He was especially devoted to his daughter Jennifer and her son, Skyler. When Jennifer and Skyler's father separated, Americo stepped in and helped raise Skyler. To Skyler, he wasn't simply his grandfather—he was Poppa. To Jennifer, he was the father she could always count on. He never gave up on her. He loved her unconditionally and stood beside her through every chapter of her life. He was, in her words, the best father she could have ever asked for.

Americo was a true family man. His greatest joy was being there for the people he loved, and his greatest wish was always to make sure they were okay. He leaves behind a family who knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, just how deeply he was loved—and who will carry his memory with them for the rest of their lives. Americo “Pops” Romero was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a soldier, and a man who spent his life taking care of others. He was Pops. And he will be missed beyond words.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carmen Romero, and his beloved son, Sean Romero. He is survived by his children, Moriama “Mori” and Jennifer; his grandchildren, Marcitos, Chloe, Kameron, Stella, and Skyler; his siblings, Tina and Jack; as well as many extended family members; lifelong friends; and all of the people whose lives he touched throughout his 81 years. And although the pain of losing him is immense, his family finds comfort in believing that Americo is no longer suffering and has finally been reunited with the two people he loved so deeply—his wife, Carmen, and his son, Sean.  Perhaps after all these years, Pops has finally found his way home to them.

Rest peacefully, Pops.

You spent your life taking care of everyone else. 

Now it's time to rest.

Give Mom and Sean a hug for us.

You were loved more than you ever knew, and you will never be forgotten.