Derek Benjamin Hall

Derek Benjamin Hall of Highland Lakes, NJ died suddenly at home on March 26, 2026. He was 41 years old. Derek was the beloved son of Mark B. Hall and Martha (Clapp) Hall of Boonton NJ.

Born in Providence RI on June 3, 1984, Derek moved to NJ as a toddler and was raised in Highland Lakes. He spent his youth swimming in the lake, riding bikes, skiing, and rollerblading, including spirited games of street hockey with the neighborhood kids. He was a 2002 graduate of Vernon Township High School.

Derek was the most kind, loving, loyal, and hard working person you could ever know. He was fun and funny. He loved friendships, family, laughing at movie quotes ("If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!"), ranting, and dancing. He loved milkshakes, pop music, Werther's Originals, and cats making biscuits. He loved Sunday road trips with Robbie, driving all over the countryside and exploring beautiful cemeteries. Derek's smile lit up his face and could light up a room. He never said goodbye without a big bear hug and saying, "I love you."

Derek was a journeyman plumber and a proud member of Plumbers United Association Local 24. He especially valued and enjoyed his role in teaching apprentices, training and ushering them into the plumbing trade. When he was offered the teaching job he joked, "I bet you never thought I'd be teaching math, did you?!" Before becoming a plumber, Derek worked for many years in landscape construction. No matter the profession, he was consistently recognized as a leader and was given supervisory/foreman positions. Derek took great pride in a job well done – he was meticulous in everything he did. He loved, and will be missed by, his union brothers and sisters.

In addition to his parents, Derek is survived by his brother Alex Hall of Boonton, whom he loved and supported through thick and thin, his cherished and adored life partner Robbie Jones of Highland Lakes, and his much loved nephews, Frederick and Viktor Hall of Hamilton NJ. Derek was also the proud and devoted "step-in" dad to Robbie's son, Chandler Carrier, a role he felt privileged to carry out.

Derek is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins from both the Hall and Clapp clans. He was pre-deceased by his loving grandparents, the Hon. Charles E. Clapp II and Elinor (Jones) Clapp of Duxbury MA, and Frederick and Edith (Sinapi) Hall of Cranston RI.

Derek was a generous and beautiful soul who was taken from us much too soon. He will be loved, remembered, and missed forever by all who knew him.

Visiting hours will take place on April 10, 2026 from 3:00-5:00pm at Scanlan's Funeral Home, 781 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains NJ 07444, immediately followed by a Memorial Service.