On October 21, 2024, Rommel E. Balancad, Jr. went home to be with His Lord and Savior surrounded by his loving family.  He was just 55.

He was born the son of Rommel, Sr and Maria (nee' Pobete) in the Philippines and came to the United States at age 2.  The family lived in Baltimore for several years and finally settled in Glen Burnie where he would be a lifelong resident.

Rommel graduated from Glen Burnie High and went on to complete an Associates Degree in Business Management at Anne Arundel Community College.  He was an 18 years employee of MOI, an interior design company, where he served as a customer service representative, retiring this passed July due to the progression of his illness.

Anyone who knew him can attest to what a special person he was.  He was dedicated to his family, and particularly enjoyed building model cars and trains with his boys and tooling with R/C cars.  Rommel was a dedicated biker who lived to ride.  He was a member of Bikers Against Child Abuse motorcycle club and was an ardent  Harley Davidson enthusiast.  He and his wife enjoyed the biker experience, taking road trips, going to bike shows and making runs together.  He also had a passion for singing and karaoke and would sing all night if he had the opportunity.  Rommel loved his family and friends very deeply.  He also had a love for children in general.  His wife Michelle related a story of a stay in hospital, where, very ill himself, Rommel noticed a sick child in a very challenging circumstance.  He was so moved by the child's suffering that he resolved to "make a child smile," by providing a stuffed bear as a gift.  This grew into a full blown charitable movement to provide stuffed bears to all sick children at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  That work is currently ongoing through his wife.  He truly lived his faith.

Surviving Rommel is his dear wife Michelle Lynn (nee' McDonald) and his two sons Sabastian M. and Rommel E. M. Balancad, III, and fiance' Taylor Musselman.  Rommel's legacy will live on in a grandson due in December.  He will be missed by his brother-in-law Dale McDonald and his brother Alexander Balancad of the Philippines.  He will be cherished in the memories of his Godchildren, Cheyenne Birts, Austin Ripple, and Heather Wheats.  Rommel's presence will be missed by his aunt Sophia Balancad and uncle Bert Balancad as well as his nieces, Jennifer and Sunshine Balancad, Jasmine McDonald, Penny Tolston and nephews, Gabriel Tolston and Steven McDonald.  He will be deeply missed by his beloved German Rottweiler, Hades who was his "number one friend," and many, many other close friends and acquaintances.

Donations may be made in Rommel's memory to Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins (details below)

Believe In Tomorrow Children's House At Johns Hopkins
1915 McElderry St., Baltimore MD 21205
Tel: 1-410-614-2560
Web: http://believeintomorrow.org