Thomas A. Hogan

HOGAN, Thomas Anthony, 84, of Woodcliff Lake, NJ passed away on August 5th, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Christine Casey; his children, Tom, Tim, Terry, Hugh, Shannon and Taryn; his brother, John; his sister, Mary Catherine as well as eight grandchildren, Megan, Mitchell, Elise, Michael, Matthew, Reese, Riley and Matilda. He is predeceased by his sister, Sarellen. Tom was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend who impacted the lives of many.

Tom grew up in Edgewater, NJ where he enjoyed little league baseball and local politics with his friends and brother, John. He graduated from Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, Fordham University and earned his JD from Villanova University School of Law (Member, Honor Board and Case Editor, Law Review).

In 1974, he formed Hogan & Palace which focused on general corporate and real estate matters. At Hogan & Palace, he was appointed special fiscal agent and mediator by the Chancery Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. After 25 years in private practice, Tom became general counsel at a start-up company under GMAC Residential with his longtime friend, Dick Schlott. Tom’s legal expertise was a catalyst in creating a billion-dollar real estate brokerage and relocation conglomerate that was purchased by Brookfield Residential Properties. He had a genuine passion for the law, negotiating deals, strategically problem solving, and redlining documents until they were purple. His calm, pragmatic thinking and courageous risk taking abilities naturally suited him to the role of legal, business and personal adviser to co-workers, clients, family and friends. In 2016, Tom retired from the corporate legal world, but continued negotiating commercial real estate transactions.

Throughout his 60 year legal career, Tom held many prestigious professional positions, including municipal attorney and prosecutor in Edgewater, NJ; attorney to the board of adjustment and board of health in Edgewater, NJ; councilman in Totowa, NJ; member of the Bergen County Ethics Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court of NJ; and special counsel, planning board in Park Ridge, NJ. He also was a member of Bergen County, NJ State and American Bar Associations and NY and Trial Attorneys of NJ, as well as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

Tom’s first love may have been law, but he always found time for sports whether it be coaching basketball, watching baseball and golf on TV; playing tennis and bocce ball tournaments; watching the Mets and the Giants lose year after year; and attending his granddaughter, Riley’s, softball and volleyball games. He loved vacationing with his family on the beaches of NJ and traveling the Italian countryside with friends. He was a steady, constant, honest sounding board to everyone close to him. We will miss his wisdom, his guidance and his humor…slán go fóill.

A Memorial visitation will take place on Sunday, August 13th at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ from 12:00-2:00PM. Please share fond memories and condolences below.