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PROSPECT PARK — John Vander Molen, an enduring figure in public service who for years pressed state legislators for more funding for Manchester Regional High School, died unexpectedly this week.
Vander Molen's impressive 44 years as a postal worker in Passaic was matched only by his unbroken streak as a school board trustee since the mid-1970s.
But he was not in it for accolades or winning records. He just wanted to do right by the kids, said Daniel Vander Molen, his youngest son.
"He was always dedicated to education," said Vander Molen, of Wyckoff, a high school social studies teacher.