The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
Sid Oman, the former mayor of Chesapeake and Elizabeth City, N.C., and co-owner of Oman Funeral Home & Crematory, died Monday night. He was 81.
Oman served three two-year terms as Chesapeake mayor in the 1980s and one term as Elizabeth City mayor from December 1989 to December 1991 before returning to Virginia.
More recently, he hosted a weekly TV show on Channel 48 called “The Sounding Board.” He taped his last episode about six weeks ago, said Mark Cox, Chesapeake’s director of public affairs.
“He was Mr. Chesapeake for many, many years,” Cox said. “I would consider him an icon of Chesapeake.”
Born Sidney Maynard Oman in Trenton, N.J., he said in a 2006 interview that he became fascinated with the funeral processions that once passed his family’s home. Since he was 13, he had summer jobs at the funeral home and decided early on that he wanted to be a funeral director. The ambition earned him the nickname “Digger.”
He went to high school at Fork Union Military Academy near Charlottesville and after graduation joined the Marines. While stationed in Wilmington, N.C., he met his wife, Lil.
They married in 1947 and had two children, Bob and Susan.
After leaving the Marines, he earned his degree at a mortuary school associated with Temple University in Philadelphia.
While in Philadelphia, he had a brief stint as a drummer in Ernie Kovacs’ Nairobi Trio.
He and his young family eventually moved to Franklin to work in a mortuary, but he was soon offered a job as an account executive to local TV station WTAR, now WTKR.
In 1956, he became public relations director at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, which included being executive director of Norfolk’s Azalea Festival.
Eventually, he resumed his mortuary career and moved to Chesapeake in 1964 to serve as vice president of Twiford Funeral Homes. That same year, he served as funeral director for Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
In 1985, the Oman family bought their own funeral home and he continued to increase his public service. He was asked to run for public office and won his first term in 1980. He retired at the end of his third term, but later bought a funeral home in Elizabeth City and moved there.
He successfully ran for mayor in the North Carolina city and held office for one term, before deciding to return to Chesapeake.
In 1993, he was diagnosed with an advanced stage of prostate cancer but battled the disease at Chesapeake General Hospital. The cancer center is now named for him because of his efforts to get it built.
“That’s the nicest honor I could ever have,” Oman said in a 2006 interview.
During that same interview, he said he was nervous about his health but wouldn’t let it stop him from living his life.
“Take every day for what it is,” he said. “I look back on my life and there’s almost nothing I’d want to change.”
Lauren King, (757) 446-2309, lauren.king@pilotonline.com
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Many memories of Sid and Oman Funeral Home
As a former Funeral Director who worked for the Oman family, I still have very fond memories of Sid. If Sid was free, he would always invite you into his office with a "hey bud", sit down,have a cup of coffee and talk to me. Sid was always concerned about your family, parents and friends. I attended my first City Council meeting because Mr. Oman invited me. This help me become more involved in my local community later in life. Sid always came to the funeral home in a business suit. I learned a lot from Mr. Oman and I still carry that knowledge through my life today. I can still remember directing, and praying with him at a grave-side service of a person that had no family left, but Sid made sure things where in order and dignified. He said it was important to treat the dead as if they where your own family. That was the Sid I will remember. You will be missed my friend.
Rest well
Sid,
It was a great pleasure in ever having known you. We crossed paths at Oak Grove U.M.C. years ago. A high school Junior/Senior at the time, you were involved not only with the Youth Group but also as the Lay Leader. You did the church a great service by being a positive, influential voice and mind. I've had to bury friends and say final goodbyes through your business and I see that you and your family take great care of other people and their families. Rest well Sid.
A True Friend To Tidewater
Sid will be deeply missed. He helped more people in need than most people will ever know. He was a true pillar of our regional community.
He will be missed ...
My sincerest sympathies to Mrs. Oman, Bob, and Susan. Sid was a great man and a good friend to my family. He was truly magnanimous in every sense of the word. When my grandmother died, Sid and Mrs. Oman escorted her to South Carolina on their anniversary out of respect and support to my mother. That will always stick out in my mind as to the caliber of person he was.
If you ever had the pleasure of visiting his office, you would see four walls of some of the coolest memorabilia imaginable; including the MacAuthur funeral procession and Sid in a monkey suit (a.k.a. Nairobi Trio Monkey).
He will be missed.
MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY
Mr.Oman was a great man! Anyone who knew him knew that. When I was 15, I went into Oman Funeral Home in hopes for a entry level job - answering phones and setting appoinments hoping maybe one day I would also be a funeral director. That was 15 years ago and the memory of him is still fresh in my mind. What a great person.
My deepest sympathy to the Oman family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Chesapeake has lost it's patron saint
Sid was an honorable and honest man. Kind to all he met. My family moved to Chesapeake under some unique circumstances in the mid-80's. We had to get a permit just to live on our property. Sid was mayor at the time and was very kind to my parents and encouraged city council to grant us the special exception permit. He has held a special place in our hearts ever since. As time went on he and his family handled funerals for our family. Even in the worst of times a kind word of encouragement from Sid made you feel a little better. There are few like Sid. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who mourn the loss of this great man.
A True Class Act
May God look over his family. I only met him twice, and in those two conversations were laughter and a true appreciation for each others opinion on political issues. Chesapeake has lost one of its finest citizens.
A True and Real Gentleman
The word "gentleman" is thrown around so much that it has been completely diluted of meaning but Sid was truly a gentleman. He was a close friend of my father and some 3 months after his death, Sid called to see how I was doing--a sincere gesture that I will never forget. He also gave credibility and honor to being both a "businessman" and "politician", not something you see much of anymore. We desperately need more people to live up to his example. He will be greatly missed.
My prayers go out to
The Oman Family. Sid's spirit, zest for life, keen lack of civic duty and pride will live on in our city forever. Sid was a man who saw good in everyone and did his best to bring it out. He was a kind and gentle man who got things done through persuasion and the passionate stances and support he gave to projects. The Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and all of Chesapeake own this first citizen a debt of gratitude. Sid, you will be missed by all who knew you!