Thomas E. Csizmadia, Sr.

Thomas E. Csizmadia, Sr., age 74 of Fairfield , loving and devoted husband of 53 years of Joan Holden Csizmadia, passed away peacefully Sunday, January 22, 2017 at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Although Tom passed away of a heart attack, the Csizmadia family was blessed to get three additional years after his son Tim donated a kidney to him on January 16, 2014. Born in Bridgeport, the son of the late Anthony and Charlotte Csizmadia, he had been a lifelong Fairfield resident. A graduate of Andrew Warde High School, Thomas served in the United States Navy. Immediately after his honorable discharge from the Navy, Tom married his high school sweetheart, Joan, as soon as he could after her high school graduation. Tom joined the Fairfield Fire Department in 1964 and retired in 1984. During those years, Tom always worked hard to support his growing family and also worked part-time as a butcher at Fairway Beef in Fairfield, which allowed Joan to stay home with their children. He then became General Manager for the Sisters of Notre Dame buildings and grounds which later became part of Fairfield University. He then worked as head custodian at Helen Keller Middle School in Easton. He was an avid fisherman and also loved bow-hunting. He loved spending time on Long Island Sound with his family and time spent at his beloved South Benson Boat Marina where he and Joan would spend many enjoyable days. He will be fondly remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who would do anything for the benefit of his family and friends. He will be dearly missed by his wife Joan as their love story began in the summer of 1959. In addition to his wife Joan, he will be sadly missed by his four sons, Thomas E. Csizmadia, Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Fairfield, Timothy M. Csizmadia and his wife Laura of Newtown, Scott H. Csizmadia and his wife Terri of Shelton and Brian A. Csizmadia and his wife Kelly of Trumbull. In addition "Papa" will be missed by his cherished seven grandchildren, of whom he was so proud, Anthony, Kati, Brandon, Colin, Scott, Jr., Summer and Colton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. meeting directly at St. Emery Church, 838 Kings Highway East, Fairfield. Interment with military honors will follow in Lawncroft Cemetery, Fairfield. Friends may call Wednesday from 4-8 PM in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492 or the National Kidney Foundation, 1463 Highland Ave., Cheshire, CT 06410. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com