DANIEL R FALLON JR

Daniel Robert Fallon, Jr., 76, a retired Worcester Police Detective, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was warmly welcomed into the arms of the love of his life, Gladys, who had previously passed.

 Born on January 12, 1948 in New York City at Manhattan General Hospital, he was the son of the late Margaret (Pegoretti) Fallon and Daniel Robert Fallon, Sr. He spent most of his younger years growing up in the Gramercy Park neighborhood and then moved onto the lower east side for a larger portion of his youth living right off of FDR Drive. Here he met his loving and devoted wife, Gladys, whom he married on August 31,1968. They were married for 53 beautiful years moving to Worcester, MA in 1971 where they would raise their loving family of four children. Daniel attended St. Agnes High School in Midtown Manhattan graduating in 1965. Then he attended various colleges such as Holy Cross and Clark University, but graduated in 1977 from Worcester State College where he majored in biology and chemistry. He is most proud of the summer courses he was accepted into and attended at Harvard University. He then graduated from Westfield State College with a masters in criminal justice in 2002. Daniel joined the United States Navy not long after high school. He served his country proudly as a Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam War. He also served in the United States Coast Guard.

Daniel leaves his four children: Lt Daniel R. Fallon III WPD, and his wife Colleen of West Boylston, Christine Mandella and her husband Mark of Grafton, Colleen O’Connor and her husband Paul of Worcester, and Melissa Fallon of San Diego, CA. Daniel’s wife, Gladys, predeceased him in 2021. He also leaves a sister, Deborah Fleischer and her husband Gary, of Palm Springs, FL, a brother, Gary Fallon and his wife Lisa, of Wallkill, NY, and another sister, Barbara Feldsine, who predeceased him just seven months ago in late August of 2023. Daniel finally leaves the absolute joys of his life, all of his grandchildren: Autumn, Arianna, Alyssa, Hannah, Danny, Keirra, Paul Jr., Seanny, Ryan, Matthew and Sean. He leaves many nieces and nephews, too.

Daniel started working as a late teenager for the New York Police Department but enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after. He was employed by Carolina Freight and ABF as a truck driver for many years until the late 90s when he decided to steadily prepare himself for the Worcester Police Academy. He was a Worcester Police Detective retiring in 2013. He was also a member of the Local 170 Teamsters Union, Worcester Police Union, and IBPO Union 9-11. He absolutely loved being a part of the WPD Crime Scene Unit and will always be known as “flash cube.” His most important job though as many know was and still is building his and others’ relationships with God. He was most honored by the fact that he served under Venerable Fulton Sheen during Holy Week in New York City and was specifically chosen as one of two altar boys from St. Agnes School. Daniel will be remembered intuitively for his strong faith and passionate love for Catholicism.

While living in Virginia for a brief period as he was stationed there in his younger years, he enjoyed long walks on the beach at Chesapeake Bay with his wife. Many summers were spent in New York and Pennsylvania visiting his family. Other places he truly enjoyed going to with Gladys in their later years were the beaches of Maine and Cape Cod. Daniel thoroughly had a passion for reading many books relating to his religion and he had an innate gift in the areas of math, statistics, speed reading and fingerprinting. He enjoyed taking pictures at all events for anyone who needed quality photos and videos. Watching the Patriots play football was a Sunday favorite in addition to watching his own children and grandchildren play sports. He enjoyed opening up his pool where he took great pride in making his grandchildren smile and cherished watching them with Gladys for as long as he could. He wholeheartedly loved, beyond a doubt, waiting for and getting the grandkids from St. Stephen School. In these moments, he would embrace every aspect of their facial expressions when they saw their Papa and the beautiful energy that poured through him when they reached for his hand. That truly was his gift! He loved the simple things in life like going to random stores with the grandkids, but most especially the Christmas Tree Shop. He loved bringing them into school or at times not letting them go because he knew that they would rather just stay at Grammy and Papa’s house. And even though he had such a strong bond with his grandchildren, he was incredibly devoted most to his wife, Gladys, whose side he never left. Most importantly, he loved to pray and attend all church services until he could no more. He was a dedicated Catholic and parishioner at St. Stephen Parish since moving here in 1971, and will be most known for preaching the word of God everywhere he went. His love for the man above never went unnoticed, and his conversations with many often grew in length because of this, but were always meaningful!

Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours Sunday, March 24, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St. His funeral will be held Monday, March 25, 2024, from the funeral home with a procession beginning at 10:30 a.m. to St. Stephen’s Church, 357 Grafton St. where his Funeral Mass will be held at 11;00 am.  Burial with Military honors will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial contributions to St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parish (Memo: Restoration Fund) to help restore the beautiful stained glass windows that surround that church and more. Donations can be sent to the parish offices at 355 Grafton St., Worcester, MA 01604. The family is comforted in knowing that Daniel is free of all pain and living eternally!