Recent Death Notices From Fairfield: Nedelcuta, Palmer, Caruso, Julian

FAIRFIELD, CT — Below are recent obituaries from Fairfield:

Costica Nedelcuta, 85, died Sept. 8. Born and raised in Romania, he worked as a mechanic building sewing machines before emigrating to the United States with his wife, Virginia. He enjoyed music, dancing, chess, soccer, gardening and traveling. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and two grandchildren.

Steven J. Palmer, 59, died Aug. 24 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Bridgeport, he grew up in Fairfield and lived there the rest of his life, graduating from Roger Ludlowe High School's Class of 1985. He spent more than 20 years as a municipal planning and zoning director in Westport, Bethel and New Canaan before joining his family's business, Judge Tool & Gage in Stratford, in 2020. He is survived by his wife, Theresa, two children and his parents.

Gillian Blake Colhoun, 64, of Fairfield, died Aug. 19.

Judith Anne Boland Caruso, 85, a longtime Fairfield resident, died Aug. 17. She grew up in Bridgeport and, after marrying George Boland Jr. of Fairfield, raised six children in town. She was an excellent athlete who picked up golf and tennis in her late 30s and a lifelong artist who returned to painting once her children were grown. She is survived by six children and six grandchildren.

Erik L. Peterson, 80, died Aug. 15 at the Carolton Convalescent Home. He moved from Norwalk to Fairfield in 1991 with his wife, Doris. An Army veteran and former construction worker, he enjoyed sitting on the porch and caring for his cats.

Patricia C. Goyette, 81, a lifelong Fairfield resident, died Aug. 8. Born in Bridgeport, she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Bridgeport and a master's in social work from Southern Connecticut State University, then spent 34 years as a social worker and supervisor for the state Department of Children and Families. She is survived by a sister and several nieces and nephews.

Paula (Flanagan) Julian, 72, died July 12 at home. Raised in Bridgeport, she graduated from Central High School's Class of 1971 and worked as a court clerk before marrying Dominick "Butch" Julian in 1978. She was known for hosting card and game nights and for her annual Fourth of July family egg toss. She is survived by her daughter, Kara, two stepdaughters and five siblings.