Donald Paul Lan Sr. (December 19, 1930 – April 29, 2019) was an American

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

politician who served as Secretary of State of New Jersey from 1977 to 1982. He was appointed to the post by Governor Brendan Byrne. Lan has been the Union County Democratic Chairman.

Background

Lan was born in Newark, New Jersey and was raised in

Maplewood, New Jersey Maplewood is a township in Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is an inner-ring suburban bedroom community of New York City in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's populatio ...

. He graduated from Columbia High School and went to Seton Hall University. Lan served in the New Jersey Air National Guard and the United States Army. Lan worked at his family's food processing company: Dell Products in

Hillside, New Jersey Hillside is a township in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States census, the township's population was 21,404, reflecting a decline of 343 (−1.6%) from the 21,747 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in ...

. Lan died on April 29, 2019 at the age of 88. Lan is survived through his 3 children (Don Jr., Richard, and Barbara), 10 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Political career

A resident of Springfield Township (Union), Lan sought the Democratic nomination for governor in

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

to succeed a term-limited Brendan Byrne, dropping out of the race in April 1981.Sullivan, Joseph F
"LAN QUITS GOVERNOR RACE; BYRNE MAKES DEGNAN AD"
'' The New York Times'', April 30, 1981. Accessed March 9, 2009.

References

1930 births 2019 deaths People from Maplewood, New Jersey Politicians from Newark, New Jersey New Jersey National Guard personnel Seton Hall University alumni Businesspeople from New Jersey New Jersey Democrats People from Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey Secretaries of State of New Jersey 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American politicians {{NewJersey-politician-stub