Obituary of Daniel J. Gibbons

Dan (Daniel) Gibbons, 73, of Morris Township, died peacefully at home after a long illness on May12, 2026.

Born in Passaic to the late John and Jeanne Gibbons, he took his place as the oldest of seven siblings, growing up in Short Hills. After attending St. Rose of Lima School in Millburn, Dan graduated from Delbarton School in Morris Township. He received his BA degree from New York University where he studied film, in 1976, and a law degree from Fordham Law School in 1982.

After a brief stint in private practice in New York, Dan embarked upon a long and honorable tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, serving with distinction in the criminal and civil divisions for three and a half decades. He also served as an adjunct professor at Rutgers Law School in Newark, teaching trial practice.

Dan took his hobbies as seriously as he did his work. Whether it was skiing, scuba diving, photography, flying planes, riding motorcycles or playing his many musical instruments, Dan approached life with joyful curiosity. He was an eager traveler, who toured Europe and North America as a young man. Dan was an avid sailor who loved the sea. He was principled, intelligent, creative and kind.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Holli Ross (Wasser), and is survived by their daughter Hannah Gibbons of Asheville NC. They lived in Maplewood where they raised Hannah. They also spent many happy summer days with family and friends on Cape Cod.

He is also survived by his six siblings, Mary Whipple, Nora Cary, Richard Gibbons, Deirdre Kvartunas, Maude Houston, David Gibbons and their families and his favorite cat Scout.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Holli Ross Fund for Jazz at Montclair State University. A celebration of Dan’s life will be held at a later date