Niels Joseph Christiansen

Niels Joseph Christiansen Sr. passed away on Tuesday September 27th, 2022 at the VA Hospital in West Haven, CT. Niels was born in Greenwich, CT on February 4th, 1938 to Niels Peter and Rose Marie (nee Guiffredo) Christiansen. He attended Hamilton Avenue School until joining the work force to help support the family, taking a job at Russell Birdsall and Ward Bolt and Nut Company in Port Chester, NY. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956, and was Honorably Discharged in 1959 after being injured at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. He worked as a plumber for many years until he was hired as an employee for over 20 years at the Greenwich Estate of Farah Pahlavi, widow of the last Shah of Iran. After retirement, he moved to Palm Harbor Florida in 2007 and returned to Connecticut in 2018, taking up residence in Milford until his recent passing.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sisters Rosemarie and Joan, and his brothers Charles and James.
He is survived by his wife Cecilia Campo-Nunez who resides in Santa Marta, Colombia; his brother William "Bill" Christiansen and his wife Nancy; his children Niels and Kelli and their children and grandchildren; his best friend Stanley Gollins whom he served with in Germany and were great friends for over 60 years; and a multitude of nephews, nieces and cousins. He will especially be missed by his grand-nephew Michael D. Sabia Jr.and his wife Heather who have cared for him over the last several years during his illness and whom he considered "the son and daughter he never had"; as well as their children Joel and Daniel who were like grandchildren to him.

Friends and family are invited to gather for a graveside service with military honors on Monday, October 3, 2022 at 10:30am at St. Mary's Cemetery, 399 North Street, Greenwich, CT.

Special thanks go to his team at the VA Hospital in West Haven for all they did for him throughout these last few years. In lieu of flowers, he wished that donations be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts.