DON and ROMA were recently recognized as one of The 60 most Powerful and Influential People in Chicago (#29). The award noted: “This is a duo that gets increasingly more interesting no matter your politics… you must tune-in to hear the verbal fisticuffs that at times make the listener cringe. The biggest names in politics show up for this show.” Also Radio Ink Magazine recently included ROMA in its Most Influential Women (MIW) in Radio for 2012. A few of their additional awards include Talker Magazine's Heavy Hitter 100, Local Radio Legends of America, and the coveted Marconi Award.
Born in New York City, DON attended William & Mary and graduated from Boston University. In both prep school and college he worked on campus radio stations. His rock-andoll radio DJ jobs hop-scotched the US and even Canada: Philadelphia, Seattle, Buffalo, Dallas, Denver, finally Chicago. His career has always been behind a microphone.
ROMA’s father was a Southern Baptist minister who became VP of SW Baptist Seminary. Her mother was a Duke University math and physics PhD honored by the Smithsonian and TCU prof. ROMA earned a BA and MA from Baylor and completed all coursework for her PhD in English literature at WSU in WA. While on sabbatical writing her dissertation, she ran into DON WADE who insisted on messing up her career path. It took him over a year to convince her she needed him. DON was relentless; they married in 1979. They reside near downtown Chicago.
ROMA has taught university, community college, high school and even grade school gifted children. She is also a home remodeler turned General Contractor and has taught kitchen remodeling and deck building seminars for local Chicago lumberyards. She is a trained yoga and meditation instructor, and a health and fitness nut.
DON and ROMA have two children. Their son HUNTER is a US Marine COL, currently stationed at the Pentagon. He recently completed his fifth (5th) tour in Iraq & Afghanistan as an F-18 Squadron Commander and Fighter Pilot. HUNTER is also a former Blue Angel, was USMC Tailhooker of the Year 2007, and the F-18 Hornet squadron he commanded won Top Fighter Squadron 2007. His beautiful wife MARGY is a former US Navy Commander who is now a doctor in Alexandria VA. Their daughter HEATHER is VP of Global Internet Security for the Americas at ABN-AMRO in New York City. HEATHER lived a block and a half from the Twin Towers when they went down. HEATHER and her beloved GORDON, a third generation Manhattanite, will be married in Central Park in September 2012.