After New Dad Dies Of Cancer, Wyckoff And Hoboken Friends Start GoFundMe

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — Ted Allen, who moved to Wyckoff from Hoboken three years ago, found out in early 2022 that his wife was pregnant with their second child. Less than 24 hours later, he got a call with bad news from a doctor he'd seen for a chronic cough: his tests showed he had a fast-moving cancer.

Allen died this past Thursday at 33. Now, his friends in Wyckoff, Hoboken, and around North Jersey are raising money for his wife and two young sons.

"Wyckoff is a special town for many reasons," said Victoria Belinsky, a friend of Allen's wife Liane, this week. "My best friend Liane grew up there, for one, but most of all, because she and her husband decided to move there to start their family after moving out of Hoboken."

Ted was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in January 2022. After Ted's diagnosis, he endured over 30 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation sessions, friends said.

Colon cancer is rare in one's 30s, although cases in that age group are rising, according to experts. Screening tests are recommended for those 45 and older, and those at risk. (Find out more here.)

Belinsky said that the treatments "weakened his body, but never his will to continue to fight and support his family. As Ted struggled through the difficulties of his battle against cancer, he always found pleasure in watching his two boys, Jack and David, play around the house, even if he wasn’t always well enough to join them."

After Ted passed away on Thursday, friends and family spread the word about a GoFundMe to help Liane and the boys navigate challenging times ahead and keep their bills paid.

As of Wednesday, the fundraiser had drawn $107,000 in donations toward its $600,000 goal.

Meanwhile, Belinsky wanted to share a few of Ted's favorite things in North Jersey, as a way of remembering him. Here's the list from friends and family, verbatim:

• He loved visiting Abma's farm. He was absolutely obsessed with it and it made him so happy to go there and buy fresh and local produce for him and his family.
• He loved getting sandwiches at A&S.
• For dinner, Ted loved Greek City in Ramsey. He said they had the best Greek food in the state.
• He also loved Pazza in Franklin Lakes, specifically the boom shroom pie and the chopped salad.
• Lastly, he enjoyed going to Van Dykes in Ridgewood with his family for an evening ice cream cone. His favorites were banana Oreo, blueberry pie, and peach.

Played College Football

Ted grew up in Basking Ridge and graduated from Ridge High School in 2007. He then played NCAA football at Gettysburg College, where he met Lianne.

After graduation, he worked for Deloitte before becoming an assistant vice president at Brown Brothers Harriman.

Liane grew up in Wyckoff and attended St Elizabeth School and Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest.

Services And How To Learn More

Read more about the family and donate via the GoFundMe page here.

Services for Ted Allen will be held this Thursday and Friday. Find out more in his obituary here.

See photos and memories of Ted here.