Joseph E. Hanlon

Joseph E. Hanlon, 76, of Cranford, N.J., entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield, N.J., www.higginsandbonner.com Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013, at the Church of St. Anne Garwood, N.J. Interment is at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, N.J. Joseph was born on June 26, 1936, and raised in Bronx, N.Y. He moved to Cranford, N.J., with his family in 1972. He graduated from Manhattan College with a degree in accounting and received his juris doctorate from Fordham Law School. Joe began his career at Janney, Montgomery, Scott as a tax accountant. From there, he joined the firm of Delafield, Harvey, Tabell as a head of tax and legal compliance. Delafield, Harvey, Tabell was then acquired by US Trust followed by Charles Schwab & Co., from which he left as managing director. Not one for retirement, he then formed Hanlon & Buxton LLC with his longtime business partner, Melody Buxton, continuing to work and serve his clients until his death. He was a highly regarded and recognized professional in the field of taxation and estate planning. Joe took great pride in his work and deeply valued the responsibility that came with it. But most important to Joe was spending time with his family whom he loved so much. He treasured his time at the Jersey Shore, traveling, reading, playing cards and exercising. He was kind, gentle, generous, but most of all a loving person who will be greatly missed and remembered often. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Anne (nee Maloney) Hanlon, as well as his first wife, Marion (Gilhooly) Hanlon. He is survived by his loving wife, Erika (nee Kobler); he was the adored father to daughter Cathy Anne (Ben) Scotti; son Joseph (Salynn); stepsons, Gregory (Devorah) Wolf, Spencer, Noel (Lynda), Barret Wolf; beloved grandfather of Megan and Jennifer Scotti, Brendan Maeve and Garret Hanlon, Jakob, Ari, James, Kaitlyn and Liam Wolf. He is also survived by his loving sister, Ann Marie (Gerald) Kilduff, and stepbrother John (Madeline) LaCour, in addition to aunts, uncle, countless nieces/nephews, cousins and adored friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cranford Family Care or to Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Research.