The Honorable Daniel F. Caruso

The Honorable Daniel F. Caruso, age 60, of Fairfield, the Probate Judge for the Town of Fairfield, passed away Sunday, February 25, 2018.
Born in Greenwich, the son of the late Frederick A. Caruso, Sr. and Ruth (Collins) Caruso Quiriconi, he was a lifelong Fairfield resident. Judge Caruso graduated from St. Pius X Parochial School, Roger Ludlowe High School, and received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and his Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School.
He was admitted to the CT Bar in 1983 and the U.S. District Court for the District of CT in 1984. Judge Caruso began his career in law with Paul Tymniak and Associates from 1984-1988, Daniel F. Caruso, Atty at Law from 1988-1997 and was currently a member of Owens, Schine & Nicola. P.C.
Judge Caruso was elected Probate Judge of Fairfield in 1995 and also served as Interim Judge for the districts of New Canaan, Greenwich, Westport and Stamford. He was a member of the Probate CT Assembly from 1995 to the present, serving as President from 2010-2012, and was also appointed to the Probate Redistricting Commission in 2009. He served as Chairman of the CT Siting Council from 2006-2011. Judge Caruso was elected to the CT General Assembly, 134th House District, from 1989-1995, serving as Assistant Minority Leader from 1991-1995; and he also served on the General Law Committee, Judiciary Committee, Regulation Review Committee and the Environment Committee.
Judge Caruso was dedicated and devoted to the Town of Fairfield. He was elected to the RTM, the Board of Finance and appointed Town Treasurer. Dan served on the Memorial Day Parade Committee and proudly served as Master of Ceremonies from 2011 to the present. He served on the Fairfield 375th Anniversary Committee, chairing its town-wide food drive.
He was a member of the Fairfield Kiwanis Club, Agape Society, American Red Cross, Fairfield County Chapter, Caroline House Board of Directors, Center for Women and Families, Board member of the Junior League of Fairfield, Greenfield Hill Grange, National Trust Heritage Advisory Board, Fairfield County Children's Choir Board of Directors and a Board member of the Oak Lawn Cemetery Association. Additionally, Judge Caruso served on the Board of the Bannow Larson Foundation, Fairfield University Planned Giving Committee and the Trustees Advisory Council, Sacred Heart University, Center for Policy Studies. He served on the Diocese of Bridgeport Red Mass, Steering Committee from 2002 to the present.
Dan was a proud recipient of the Padre Pio Award in 2016 and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He received the Notre Dame High School Community Spirit Award, attained the rank of Eagle Scout and received the Fairfield County Chapter Boy Scouts of America Good Scout Award.
A lifelong parishioner of St. Pius X Church, Dan served as lay reader, participated in many of the church functions and was a member of the St. Pius X Council 16347 Knights of Columbus. He was a volunteer for the Salvation Army and always looked forward to ringing the bell during the holiday season. Judge Caruso will be remembered as a kind, gentle and fair man, deeply faithful to his religion, family, friends and to his beloved town of Fairfield. Dan was a mentor to many young adults not only in the practice of law, but more importantly, in the way he conducted his life. A life dedicated to others. Above all else, he loved spending time with his nieces and nephews while imparting his wisdom to them.
Survivors include his three siblings, Frederick A. Caruso, Jr. and his wife Gale (Bridges) Caruso of Stratford, Michael P. Caruso and his wife Jill (Runcie) Caruso of Easton and Nancy Elizabeth Caruso of Stratford; his cherished nieces and nephews, Blake, Tyler, Ava, Michael, Matthew, Arabella, Jennifer, James and Dylan; an aunt, Carol Caruso Ducret and her late husband Lucien of Old Greenwich, an uncle J. Fred Collins Jr. and his wife Susan of Stamford and many loving cousins. The family wishes to thank Dan's trusted assistant, Kate Maxham and all his dedicated staff at the Fairfield Probate Court.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. meeting directly at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Friends may call Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a local Boy Scout troop, Notre Dame High School or St. Pius X Church. For information or to offer an online condolence please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com