Denis Phalon

Denis Phalon, 80 of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey departed this material world on March 28, 2025, after battling cancer.

Born on June 1, 1944, in Paterson, NJ, Denis was a lifelong resident of the Garden State. He was the youngest of the four children of Louise DeBlieck Phalon and Vincent J. Phalon. He grew up in Clifton, graduating from Clifton High School in 1962.

Sometime in 1964, a girl who lived in his neighborhood caught Denis’s eye. He would often see her walking with her friends through the park at the end of the block. While sledding with friends on a snowy evening that winter, Denis worked up the courage to ask Carolyn Kocsis for a date. They were married in 1970.

Denis graduated from Fairleigh Dickenson University in 1972, with a degree in economics. He earned his MBA in 1976, from New York University Stern School of Business. He worked for prominent financial services firms, primarily in government bond trading, and was well-regarded in the financial services industry for his expertise. He truly enjoyed his work, but he always made time to have fun with his family and friends.

In his leisure time, Denis enjoyed alpine skiing, tennis, golf, sports cars—especially Corvettes, and New York Rangers hockey. He was a natural athlete who could pick up almost any sport he became interested in. He amassed a collection of fine wine that he lamented he would not be able to finish drinking in his lifetime. He was generous with his time and always willing to help with a financial question or driving directions.

Denis and Carolyn moved to Chatham, NJ in 1978, where they raised their two daughters: Amy and Denise. Denis was a devoted husband and father. His daughters were admittedly spoiled by a father who rarely said no to anything they asked for, but they are endlessly grateful for his unconditional love and patient guidance. They cherish the memories they have of family ski trips, beach vacations, and other adventures.

In 2009, Denis welcomed his first grandson, Christopher, and his second grandson, Ryan in 2012. A proud grandfather, Denis wasted no time teaching his grandsons about the finer things in life: fast cars and donuts. Denis was pre-deceased by his parents and his three siblings: Irene Danser of Bowie, Maryland; Vincent “Buddy” Phalon of Ringwood, NJ; Joeseph Phalon of Hamilton, Ohio; as well as his treasured schnauzer dog Stanley. Denis is survived by his wife, Carolyn Kocsis Phalon; his daughter Amy Phalon of Kennebunk, Maine; his daughter Denise Cascio of Wyckoff, New Jersey; his grandsons Christopher Cascio and Ryan Cascio; and his grand-dogs Aspen and Louie.

The family will receive friends on April 2, 2025, from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ. www.vpfh.com.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on April 3, 2025, at 10:00 am at St. Elizabeth of Hungary, 700 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481.

Interment will follow at Christ the King Cemetery, 980 Huron Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Denis’s memory can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/.

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