my old first car
badly rusted now
like me
While writing this review, I learned why Harry may have thought of himself as “rusted;” he was battling cancer, a battle he unfortunately lost in September of this year. He will be missed by his friends, his family and by IEEE.
Roman authored this E-Book to show that engineers, despite a common stereotype to the contrary, can write — and can write creatively.
In the book’s introduction, Roman asserts that the skills obtained from the study and application of engineering can easily be applied to other professions or interests. He notes, “I have met engineers who became passionate about patent law, making musical instruments, medical practice, STEM teachers, as well as a host of other unusual occupations very different from their original engineering education.”
Anyone who has read his many IEEE-USA e-books knows that Harry T. Roman was passionate about many things — engineering, Thomas Edison, teaching, and Inventing. In The Passionate Engineer, Roman reveals his passion for creative writing, sharing his impressive poems and short stories.
In addition to combatting that non-writer engineer stereotype, he also says he wrote it to encourage other engineers to explore creative writing and to publish their works.
He admits that it is not easy at first since “engineers are reticent to write from the heart,” suggesting, “It is part of our dispassionate education.” Roman encourages fellow engineers to get inspiration from their life experiences, such as long walks, music, frustration with work, the changes of the seasons, or the ocean.
Roman discusses the magic of poetry, stating that poems can transports “to another place and time — evoking feelings and memories, and awakening old images in the process, and creating new ones, too.”
The poems he shares are short, but quickly evoke strong images or emotions, like this one:
Snowfall
Fresh snowfall
like childhood
unblemished
by life’s footprints.
Roman certainly left many of “life’s footprints.” He worked as a R&D engineer for 36 years at PSE&G and received 12 U.S. patents for robots used for utility work. For his innovation, The New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame named him Inventor of the Year in 2005. His experiences became the inspiration for his series of comic books for IEEE-USA about a female engineer and her robots.
Roman was active in retirement with his other passions. He became an advisor/author to the Edison Innovation Foundation and docent/special lecturer at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, NJ.
He was also passionate about teaching, developing resource books, math card games, and science kits for teachers and he continued to work in the classroom in several New Jersey towns and universities.
And he was passionate about writing. He wrote numerous E-Books for IEEE-USA, and published hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics.
Roman showcases his writing passion including some of his short stories in The Passionate Engineer — just a few paragraphs he describes as “dropping the reader into a situation and then windowing out soon thereafter.” He adds “I want the reader to ‘see’ and ‘feel’ my point and create their own story. What is not there is as important as what is there.”
Stories in the E-Book include a comparison of fireflies to a new idea, an astronaut finding the dead corpse of an alien creature, summer rain nourishing not just the earth but the rhythm and the sounds of the rain nourishing the soul, and one titled “Men are like nails in a wooden floor.” The short pieces are enjoyable, thought provoking, and fun.
Harry T. Roman will be remembered for many things. For me, I will remember him as the quintessential passionate (and talented) engineer.
The E-Book, The Passionate Engineer by Harry T. Roman, is available for free for IEEE members at the IEEE-USA shop. While there, why not peruse his other E-Book that cover such areas as tips on teaching robotics and other STEM topics, his comic book series, or his E-Books of advice such as for transition from university to the engineering workplace.
1949-2025
This e-Book is dedicated to the memory of Harry T. Roman, whose countless contributions to the engineering profession cannot be measured in words alone. Over the past decade, Harry eloquently shared his wisdom, creativity, and deep love for engineering (and Thomas Edison!) inside the pages of 56 IEEE-USA e-Books — each one a personal reflection of his passion, insight, and generosity of spirit.
Harry wasn’t just a prolific writer — he was a mentor, a storyteller, and a true friend to many in the profession. His lifelong love of learning was infectious and inspiring. His legacy is lasting, his voice is missed, and his impact is beyond irreplaceable.
Thank you, Harry — for everything.
