Obituary of Frederick H. Allen

Allen, Frederick H., age 76, passed away on June 4, 2015 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born in Hackensack Hospital on February 1, 1939 to Harlan and Elizabeth Allen. He grew up in Hasbrouck Heights and graduated from Hasbrouck Heights High School in 1956. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1960 where he was a member of the marching band and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He graduated from Rutgers Law School in 1962. He also had an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He set up his law practice in Hasbrouck Heights and managed the Allen and Allen Insurance Agency established by his father in 1924. In 1963 he married Linda Braginetz and they settled in the town. During his time there, he was involved in local politics. He was on the Republican County Committee and served for several years as the Republican Municipal Chair. He was appointed Hasbrouck Heights Borough Prosecutor. He was a member of St. John the Devine Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry. His community activities included the Jaycees, the Pioneer Club, the Lions Club and the Elks Lodge #1962 where he is a life member. He was especially active in the Lions Club and initiated the idea of having fireworks on the 4th of July for the town. In 1976 he moved to Franklin Lakes and immediately got involved in local politics. He was elected to the Republican County Committee and served for several years as Municipal Chair. He was appointed Prosecutor and later Public Defender. In all he spent over 35 years in public service. For a time the family attended St. Alban's Episcopal Church where he served on its vestry. He is a member of the Indian Trail Club, the High Mountain Golf Club, the Franklin Lakes Seniors and Christ Episcopal Church in Ridgewood. Fred and his wife loved to travel and spent many years touring the world. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary with family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his son Peter and his wife, Rebecca and their children Jennifer and Laura and his son Jeff and his wife Dena and their children William and Megan. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Jane Taylor and her husband, John of Park Ridge and many nephews and nieces. Fred lived a full life. He kept on going even as the disease robbed him of his ability to function. We thank his friends who helped and his caregiver, Josephine, who took such good care of him. He will be missed. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, 10:30 AM at the funeral home followed by the interment at Redeemer Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ. For those wishing, memorial contributions in Fred's memory may be made to the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436 or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.