Written by Seth Stutman
Photos by Lanae Photo

Sponsored by East Village Place

Published in Longmeadow Neighbors (May 2023)

Since the 1950’s, the Rome family has been not only selling cars, but also improving the community, both at home in Longmeadow, and all over the Pioneer Valley. It seems like everyone has seen the Rome family out and about in Longmeadow, bought a car from them, or seen their philanthropy in action - and at the very least - you’ve seen and heard their dogs on TV.  

“Longmeadow is a great place to raise a family,” said Gary.  “It’s safe, the community is diverse and engaging, it’s not difficult for people to make friends - and it’s a great place to walk around with our dogs.”

The Rome’s family business in the Pioneer Valley began in Holyoke when Gary’s father began servicing and selling cars in Holyoke in the late 1950’s. On Saturdays, Gary would beg his father to take him to work and quickly Gary inherited his father’s strong work ethic and community spirit.  As his father used to tell him, “it doesn't cost any extra to be nice,” and Gary has taken that axiom to heart.  

The Rome family moved to Longmeadow when Gary was a child, and he took advantage of the same niceties that he appreciates as a parent and resident today.  

“I played at Bliss Park, Strople Field -  I miss being a kid in Longmeadow and riding my bike and letting it fall wherever it may and playing in the fields,” he said.  “Now, I’ve loved to have been able to play with my kids on the same fields.

While much has changed in town, much remains the same.   “I like that we’ve got local restaurants here like Max’s Burger, Posto and The Meeting House,” he said.  “It's nice to see the enhancements, like the new high school, the parks, and they’re redoing some of the fields.  You’ve got the tennis courts, the walkable town and close schools, and so much more, and the kids can ride from one end of town to the other, or go the Connecticut River to go fishing, or to Laurel Pond.”  

Gary graduated from LHS and went to Ithaca College, where he received a degree in business administration and political science in 1983 - but cars were still his passion.  He attended the National Automobile Dealers Association School, and took over as the general manager of his father’s Nissan dealership.  In 1997, Gary founded Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, and now, his auto group extends to Gary Rome Kia of Enfield - with community at the center of his business. 

While it’s Gary who makes the rounds on TV, and at so many public events, his wife Jane is the woman behind the scenes, ensuring that Gary and the rest of the Rome family are prepared for every day.  Jane Rome grew up in Connecticut, and graduated from Roger Williams University.  After graduation, she dabbled in business school, but decided her heart was in technology, and took a position at IBM.  She also worked for Siemens AG, and worked for years in solutions design for IT sourcing while living in Stamford, CT.” No one could ever understand what I did, but I loved it,” Jane said, “If your company needed an IT solution, you hired our company to provide it.”

Jane and Gary met 25 years ago, as a sunrise broke through a morning mist on a Connecticut lake.  “We met at 5:30 in the morning … Gary gets up early to go water skiing,” said Jane.  “I was with a friend who knew Gary, and we came to spend some time on the lake, and that’s how we met.”  

Gary was smitten at first sight, and eventually won over Jane, who at first was skeptical of a long-distance relationship.  After three years of dating, they got engaged, and Jane moved from Connecticut to Longmeadow, and quickly became acclimated to town.  

“It seemed like a great location.  It was close to both New York and Boston, and it was very much a bedroom community, and it seemed like a nice place to raise a family,” Jane said.

“We fell in love, so it didn’t matter where we lived, but I was fortunate to share with her all the people and places I grew up with,” said Gary, looking back on the early days of his relationship.    

Jane quickly took to Longmeadow, and forged her own path.  “When I first moved here we bought the house, got married, and I got pregnant pretty quickly. I joined the Newcomers Club, which is such a great thing about Longmeadow,” she said.  “I joined any groups that I could … cooking, cards, books and even created a club with friends.”  

Gary appreciated the welcoming nature of town, a feeling that has remained in the decades since Jane arrived, and the connections she (and Gary) made have resulted in life-long friendships.  “The card games, the dinners, the clubs, all of these things made us feel comfortable, and we’ve maintained some of these friendships for more than 20 years,” Gary remarked.

Gary and Jane Rome have three children, Will, 21 and twins Jake and Sydney, both 16.  Will graduated LHS in 2020 and is a junior at American University in Washington, DC. He’s currently attending a semester abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece. Sydney is on the LHS volleyball team and Jake on the LHS hockey and volleyball team. Sydney loves Latin and Jake History and fishing - and the whole family loves to waterski. The Rome kids are  appreciative of the opportunities that Longmeadow provides.  

“I grew up playing outside, where you can play with your dogs and friends and it’s safe,” said Jake.   

For the Rome family, sports continues to be the connector, and Gary always felt it was important to support local recreation.  “I think it’s important to build a strong community,” Gary said. “We’ve been active with sponsoring local organizations, boosters and sports - I think it’s important … kids shouldn’t have to pay for their uniforms, and their banquets”

Philanthropy is paramount in the Rome family, not just at the dealership.  The whole family delivers meals every year for Open Pantry, and has spent Thanksgivings working along with the USO.  "If you volunteer for a committee, or a board position, it’s important to be a power of example for others to follow suit,” said Gary, “I like being involved in the community - it’s the best part of my job.”

The Rome’s don’t just support Longmeadow, and know that a rising tide lifts all boats.  In addition to his support in Longmeadow, Rome is a board member for the Holyoke Community College Foundation, Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, Holyoke High School, Children's Museum at Holyoke, Homework House of Holyoke, and more. His annual Academic Achievement Award bestows a brand new Hyundai to one deserving Holyoke High School senior. Between donations to fundraisers, events at the dealerships, and more, the Rome name is synonymous with giving back.  

Recently, Gary Rome was the recipient of the 2023 TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year Award at the 106th National Automobile Dealers Association Show.  Rome was awarded the national prize in a field of thousands of dealers not only for his business success but also for his philanthropy, community outreach and for internal corporate culture initiatives. In addition to the TIME honor, BusinessWest recently named Gary as a Class of 2023 Difference Maker, an award given to individuals of Western Mass who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the community.

Rome is quick to deflect the praise and pomp that goes along with someone of his stature in the community, an auto dealer by trade who has evolved into a community organizing philanthropist.  He credits his team and colleagues, who also spend countless hours working to make our region a better place.  

“I don’t have to do these things, I GET to do them.  A lot of us do community service on our time off,” Gary said.  “I love what I’m doing, and I hope that others follow suit.  When you like doing it, it’s not work at all.”