First Selectman on Benjamin Olmstead, 37-Year Town Employee: ‘He Was a Friend to All’

The town public works employee struck by a motor vehicle late Wednesday morning in New Canaan has succumbed to his injuries, officials say. Benjamin Olmstaed, 71, of Norwalk, had worked for the town for 37 years and he passed Thursday at Norwalk Hospital, according to First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. “Ben was truly a friend to all,” Mallozzi said in a letter sent by email Friday morning to municipal employees. “This is a tremendous loss and my deepest sympathy is extended to the entire Olmstead family as well as our Town Hall family who worked with, and loved, Ben so very much.”

He was struck by a motor vehicle at about 11:20 a.m. while spray painting on Route 123, Krolikowski has said. A Norwalk man, 60, driving north on 123 struck Olmstead as he turned left onto East Avenue.