Commissioner R.O. "Nemo" Niedomanski

Rodney O. “Nemo” Niedomanski, a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner, died on Saturday, July 2, 2005 at his home in Grasonville, MD. He was 69. Mr. Niedomanski was born on April 5, 1936 in Washington, D.C. to the late Bruce Niedomanski and Billie Lee Hunter Niedomanski. He attended Roosevelt High School; graduating class of 1955. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army. While active in the military, he married Nancy Roberts of Washington D.C in 1956; they later divorced. During the 1970’s he worked for Washington Gas Light Company (WGL) in an engineering/marketing capacity. In 1985, he became Director of Government and Public Affairs. Mr. Niedomanski worked to form four Political Action Committees (PAC) within Washington Gas and served as Vice President of the Maryland PAC. During his career, Mr. Niedomanski also testified before the Maryland General Assembly and various local governments on such matters as energy taxes, citizens utility boards, underground utility problems and successfully introduced and passed legislation for WGL. He was responsible for the passage of key legislation on alternative fuel vehicles during the 1993 Maryland session. While employed by WGL, Mr. Niedomanski also worked part time in the heating and air conditioning business. After serving 38 years with Washington Gas, he retired in 1994. Following his retirement he created Nemo’s General Contracting, building custom homes in Annapolis and Queen Anne’s County. Throughout his life, Mr. Niedomanski was a member of various local Chambers of Commerce and served as Secretary of the Maryland-District of Columbia Utilities Association. He holds an A.A. degree in engineering from Montgomery College and is a past member of the Alumni Board for Montgomery College. He also served as a commissioner for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, and previously served as a member of the Governor’s Energy Task Force. He is also a past State President of the Maryland Jaycees. He married Ruth Littlepage Ritenour of Alexandria, VA on May 31, 1987 and has since that time resided in Grasonville, Maryland. In addition to his wife, Ruth, he is survived by five children, Craig Niedomanski of Beltsville, MD, Tami Niedomanski of Rockville, MD, Diana Poole and husband Benny of Woodbine, MD, Beth Girone and husband Bill of Spotsylvania, VA, and Jeff Ritenour of Crete, Greece, and Tawyna Ritenour of Goose Creek, South Carolina; eight grandchildren, Kevin Poole of Woodbine, MD, Brian Poole of Woodbine, MD, Hanna Poole of Woodbine, MD, Danielle Spencer of Rockville, MD, J.J. Ritenour of Goose Creek, SC, Tashauna Ritenour of Goose Creek, SC, Kyle Girone of Spotsylvania, VA and Cody Girone of Spotsylvania, VA. One twin brother, Robert Niedomanski, and one sister, Jeanette Theim, predeceased him. Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Thursday, July 7, 2005 at the Kent Island United Methodist Church. Family and friends may call to the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam, P.A. ~ Centreville, MD on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 and Wednesday, July 6, 2005 between 2 PM - 4 PM and 7 PM – 9 PM. Burial will be on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery in Oldhams, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grasonville Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 626 Grasonville, MD 21638, Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department Capital Campaign P.O Box 27 Stevensville, MD 21666 and/or Queenstown Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 118 Queenstown, MD 21658.