Obituary: Robert N. Olsen, 79, of Fairfield

From Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home

Robert Nils Olsen, 79, of Fairfield, the beloved husband of Josephine Olsen for over 35 years, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2018. Born in the Bronx, NY, he was a graduate of City College of New York and received his Master’s in Engineering from Princeton University. Bob started his career with 3M in Minnesota and then joined King Industries as a Chemical Engineer where he retired after 30 years.

After retiring from engineering, Bob began a new career and received a Master’s in Career Counseling from Fairfield University. He started his own business “Career You Love Counseling” to express his new love of helping people.

Bob’s love of children led him to be a volunteer reader at Madison & Hall schools in Bridgeport. The kids couldn’t wait to see what props he would bring to school and make the stories come alive.

He loved the beach (especially Jones Beach) and traveled with Jo to every beach they could find. He met the love of his life on the dance floor and they never stopped dancing through life together. He also enjoyed walking and could often be seen walking the beach or the neighborhood in his bright yellow jacket and white hat using his walking poles.

In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his daughter, Kathe Franzen of Cocoa Beach, FL; his four stepsons: Vincent Fama of Long Beach, CA, Matthew Fama of Milford, CT, Paul Fama and his wife Stacy of Fairfield, CT and Sal Fama and his wife Karen of Richmond, VA; grandchildren: Erin & Belen Torres, Daniel Franzen, Jamie & Jeremy Booth, Tony, Courtney, Philip, Anna Marie, Viviana and Liam Fama; 2 great grandchildren, Ashton Franzen, Wesley Fama and soon to be Easton Booth; and his brother Ralph Olsen and his wife Marge of New York. He was predeceased by his son Daniel Olsen and his brother James Olsen.

The family would like to thank the staff and aides at Bridges by Epoch Memory Care in Trumbull for their love and care of Bob for the last three months and Grasmere Adult Care for watching over him these last two years.

Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road in Fairfield. Interment is private.

Donations may be made in Bob’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home here.