The family of Ed Karazin has published his obituary. It says:
The Honorable Edward Robert Karazin, Jr. of Westport, Connecticut died peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by loved ones, on July 10. He was 86.
Ed spent the last year of his life celebrating more than 6 decades of marriage to his wife, Irene “Renie” Karazin, and living each day as a caring and involved father and grandfather.
Ed was born in Queens, New York. His father, Edward Sr., was an electrician who moved the family to Westport and started a company, Home Maintenance, when Ed was in 3rd grade.
Ed attended Greens Farms Elementary School, Bedford Junior High School and Staples High School, graduating in 1957.
He was the first person in his family to attend college. He studied economics at Boston College, graduating in 1961. He was passionate about BC and its sports teams (even taking his family to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl in 1985 to see Doug Flutie lead the team to victory). After college Ed attended Fordham Law School, commuting daily from Westport, and earned his J.D. in 1964.
Ed and Renie were married in 1965. To fulfill his ROTC obligation, they moved to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where Ed was assigned to spend 2 years as an Army civil affairs officer.
But in November of 1965 he was sent to Vietnam for a 1-year tour of duty in the Pacification Program in Quang Tin Province, as a MACV advisor. He earned both a Bronze Star. The Vietnamese government awarded him the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross.
Edward Karazin Jr.
After his discharge Ed began a legal career in Westport. He served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the state, then worked in private practice as a trial lawyer representing clients in civil cases and family law matters.
In 1990 Ed was nominated to a state Superior Court judgeship. He served in that capacity until becoming a judge trial referee in 2010, a job he held until the day he died. For several years he was the chief administrative judge in Stamford.
Ed was involved in the Westport community. He served as a Little League coach and board member, Pop Warner board member, lector at Assumption Church, board member of the Levitt Pavilion, and member of the Board of Finance.
He led the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Stamford courthouse, spoke at the Westport Veterans Day event, was a member of VFW Post 399, and provided many hours of pro bono legal services for veterans.
Ed served as treasurer for Julie Belaga’s gubernatorial campaign in 1986. He was also an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University.
Ed received many honors, including the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Judicial Award in 2010, the Fairfield County Bar Association’s Robert J. Callahan Judiciary Award in 2017 for “dedication to the highest professional ideals, and long-term conscientious service to the community as a judge,” and in 2021 he was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.
In 2025, Ed was selected to be grand marshal of the Westport Memorial Day parade.
Ed Karazin served as grand marshal of the 2025 Memorial Day parade. He was joined by his wife Renie. (Photo/Tom Feeley)
Ed’s top priority throughout his life was being a devoted husband, and loving father to his children Edward Robert Karazin III, Deborah Karazin Owens and Michael Alfred Karazin. He filled their lives with humor, support, advice, and life stories.
He coached their sports teams, wrote them lengthy letters at summer camp, and attended their concerts and performances. He taught them important life skills such as how to drive and care for a car (never let the gas tank get under a quarter), how to fish and boat, how to make perfect mashed potatoes (cold butter, warm milk), and how to mix a spectacular cocktail.
He instilled in them a solid work ethic (there was always weeding to be done), respect for history (he pulled out the Declaration of Independence every 4th of July), zest for life (all it took was some ‘50s music for him to start singing along), and an understanding of the value of a dollar (he was a coupon clipper and packed his lunch till the end).
Ed took great pride in being a grandparent, often wearing T-shirts representing the schools his grandchildren attended, and never failing to press a few dollars of “walkin’ around money” into their hands at the end of a visit. He often told them about a legal case he was working on, describing the scenario and how each party had acted. Then he would ask, “What would the judge do?” They would debate, engage, and learn to examine all sides of a complex problem.
Ed Karazin in uniform, on Veterans Day.
During the last decade Ed and Renie spent winters in Palm Desert, California, where they developed a strong community of friends. Ed was a clutch member of the bocce team DeBoccery, and won weekly prizes in the “Putters” league, where he was the 2024-25 champion.
He loved orchids, was a huge sports fan (“let’s go Mets”), was always on time, made homemade applesauce, told great “dad” jokes, enjoyed a good hot dog, and he loved vacations and traveling with Renie.
He had a chore list for any able-bodied person who came over to his house, he supported the arts, and he especially enjoyed an upbeat musical. He loved people, and a good conversation.
Ed’s last day of life was remarkable. He spoke to every grandchild on the phone, said his goodbyes and imparted last words of wisdom. He was listening to “Blueberry Hill,” his favorite song by Fats Domino, as he passed on.
Ed was predeceased by his sister Ann Milo. He is survived by his wife Renie, and their children and grandchildren: Edward and Ursula Karazin (Christopher, Reilly, Amanda), Deborah and Jeffrey Owens (Katherine and Jack), and Michael Karazin (Kayla, Chloe, Zachary, Emma).
Visitation will take place on Friday, August 21 (4 to 7 p.m., Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road, Fairfield). A Mass of Christian Burial is set for Saturday, August 22 (10 a.m., Church of the Assumption_. Interment with military honors will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to either Boston College or Fordham Law School.
