Donald Lan

{{Short description|American politician (1930–2019)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Donald Lan | image = | image_size = | caption = | office = New Jersey Secretary of State | term_start = 1977 | term_end = January 1982 | governor = Brendan Byrne | predecessor = George W. Lee | successor = Jane Burgio | birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|12|19}} | birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|04|29|1930|12|19}} | death_place = Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. }}

'''Donald Paul Lan Sr.''' (December 19, 1930 – April 29, 2019) was an American Democratic Party 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. 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.<ref>[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sunsentinel/obituary.aspx?n=donald-p-lan&pid=192757856&fhid=12152 Donald P. Lan-obituary]</ref> Lan died on April 29, 2019, at the age of 88.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/in-memoriam/donald-lan-former-secretary-of-state-and-gubernatorial-candidate-dies-at-88/ |title=Donald Lan, former Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate, dies at 88 |first=David |last=Wildstein |author-link=David Wildstein |website=New Jersey Globe |date=2019-05-01 |accessdate=2019-05-01}}</ref>

==Political career== A resident of Springfield Township (Union),<ref>Sullivan, Joseph F. [https://www.nytimes.com/1980/12/15/archives/state-aid-drawing-crowded-field-to-1981-race-for-jersey-governor-5.html "State Aid Drawing Crowded Field To 1981 Race for Jersey Governor"], ''The New York Times'', December 15, 1980. Accessed February 5, 2013. "In addition, there are campaign committees in the field raising money and testing support for Representative James J. Florio of Camden, Senate President Joseph P. Merlino of Trenton, Senator William J. Hamilton Jr. of New Brunswick, Senator Frank J. Dodd of West Orange, Secretary of State Donald Lan of Springfield, Assemblywoman Barbara W. McConnell of Flemington, former Senator Herbert J. Buehler of Ocean Township and William Zsidisin of Bayonne, all Democrats."</ref> Lan sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 1981 to succeed a term-limited Brendan Byrne, dropping out of the race in April 1981.<ref>Sullivan, Joseph F. [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70916F83D5C0C738FDDAD0894D9484D81 "LAN QUITS GOVERNOR RACE; BYRNE MAKES DEGNAN AD"], ''The New York Times'', April 30, 1981. Accessed March 9, 2009.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=J. Edward Crabiel}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary of State of New Jersey|years=1977–1982}} {{s-aft|after=Jane Burgio}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lan, Donald}} Category:1930 births Category:2019 deaths Category:People from Maplewood, New Jersey Category:Politicians from Newark, New Jersey Category:New Jersey National Guard personnel Category:Seton Hall University alumni Category:Businesspeople from Newark, New Jersey Category:New Jersey Democrats Category:People from Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey Category:Secretaries of state of New Jersey Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century New Jersey politicians Category:Columbia High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:Businesspeople from Union County, New Jersey