Roman Tmetuchl started feeling ill in January 1999.
His health gradually declined in the following months and he died on July 1, 1999 of heart disease.
He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and would read his Bible everyday.
The President of Palau, Kuniwo Nakamura, proclaimed a state of national mourning for Tmetuchl.

On April 11, 2006, Palauan senators Reklai, Koshiba, Seid, Diaz, and Dengokl on April 11, 2006 proposed to rename Palau International Airport as the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport.
The senate passed this resolution on May 4, 2006, which stated that, "The Roman Tmetuchl International Airport is a fitting name for Palau's international airport due to Mr. Tmetuchl's numerous years of valuable services he provided to the Republic and for the assistance he provided in developing the airport."
In 2008, the Tmetuchl family built a chapel at Belau National Hospital to honor and continue Roman's legacy.
Roman Tmetuchl started feeling ill in January 1999. His health gradually declined in the following months and he died on July 1, 1999 of heart disease. He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and would read his Bible everyday. The President of Palau, Kuniwo Nakamura, proclaimed a state of national mourning for Tmetuchl.
On April 11, 2006, Palauan senators Reklai, Koshiba, Seid, Diaz, and Dengokl on April 11, 2006 proposed to rename Palau International Airport as the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport. The senate passed this resolution on May 4, 2006, which stated that, "The Roman Tmetuchl International Airport is a fitting name for Palau's international airport due to Mr. Tmetuchl's numerous years of valuable services he provided to the Republic and for the assistance he provided in developing the airport." In 2008, the Tmetuchl family built a chapel at Belau National Hospital to honor and continue Roman's legacy.
Roman Tmetuchl