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September 17, 2026
Services
James will be celebrated and interred at a graveside service at Maryrest Cemetery 770 Darlington Avenue Mahwah, NJ on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM.
James Mark Sander passed away peacefully in a standing-room-only crowd, surrounded by his six siblings and many of his beloved nieces and nephews.
James was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey and raised in Canton, Massachusetts and in Wayne, New Jersey. He never lost his lifelong love of Boston sports, especially the Red Sox, and painted his bedroom to evoke the Green Monster. A grand man in every sense of the word, James spent many Christmases dressed as the tallest Santa Claus you had ever seen, to the delight first of his nieces and nephews and later of his fellow dialysis patients.
James worked in a number of different fields, as a bouncer at New York City nightclubs, a security guard at Calvin Klein, a truck diver, a private investigator, and for many years at Target, where he loved and was beloved by many of his coworkers.
Some of his friends affectionately called him “Lurch”, a moniker he turned into a vanity license plate on his signature Jeep Wranglers. To his family he was simply “Gubby”, an inside joke from his childhood, a unique name to match this truly unique man. To the elected officials and bureaucrats of Ramsey, New Jersey, his home during his last decades, he was a permanent fixture at town meetings, where all surely admired his tenacious advocacy (if not always his specific complaints.) He was frequently found at the sporting events of his cherished nieces and nephews, and occasionally served as able chaperone to them and their friends at concerts and other events.
James is predeceased by his father, Richard Paul Sander Sr., with whom his ashes will be buried. He is and will be grieved by his mother, Florence Sander (nee D’Angelo); his sisters Mary Foster, and Theresa Maus and husband Axel; his brothers Gerhard Sander and wife Andrea, Richard Sander Jr. and wife Marisol, John Sander and wife Marie, Stephen Sander and wife Michele; his nieces Jennifer Sullivan, Elle Sander, Lauren Roper and husband Jackson, Michelle Drahuschak and husband Michael, Alexis Sander, and Grace Sander; his nephews Robert Foster and wife Lori, Daniel Foster and wife Kaitlin, Richard Sander and wife Fiona, Jack Sander, Christian Sander and wife Lindsey, and Stephen Sander Jr; his great nieces Willow, Peyton, Ruby, and Riley; his great nephew Forest; his countless friends, companions, admirers, and poker buddies; and last but among most by his “dialysis buddy” Fred, whose unwavering friendship and support was surely a gift from the Divine.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to theAmerican Kidney Fund https://give.kidneyfund.org
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
James will be celebrated and interred at a graveside service at Maryrest Cemetery 770 Darlington Avenue Mahwah, NJ on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM.
September 17, 2026
Services
James will be celebrated and interred at a graveside service at Maryrest Cemetery 770 Darlington Avenue Mahwah, NJ on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM.
James Mark Sander passed away peacefully in a standing-room-only crowd, surrounded by his six siblings and many of his beloved nieces and nephews.
James was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey and raised in Canton, Massachusetts and in Wayne, New Jersey. He never lost his lifelong love of Boston sports, especially the Red Sox, and painted his bedroom to evoke the Green Monster. A grand man in every sense of the word, James spent many Christmases dressed as the tallest Santa Claus you had ever seen, to the delight first of his nieces and nephews and later of his fellow dialysis patients.
James worked in a number of different fields, as a bouncer at New York City nightclubs, a security guard at Calvin Klein, a truck diver, a private investigator, and for many years at Target, where he loved and was beloved by many of his coworkers.
Some of his friends affectionately called him “Lurch”, a moniker he turned into a vanity license plate on his signature Jeep Wranglers. To his family he was simply “Gubby”, an inside joke from his childhood, a unique name to match this truly unique man. To the elected officials and bureaucrats of Ramsey, New Jersey, his home during his last decades, he was a permanent fixture at town meetings, where all surely admired his tenacious advocacy (if not always his specific complaints.) He was frequently found at the sporting events of his cherished nieces and nephews, and occasionally served as able chaperone to them and their friends at concerts and other events.
James is predeceased by his father, Richard Paul Sander Sr., with whom his ashes will be buried. He is and will be grieved by his mother, Florence Sander (nee D’Angelo); his sisters Mary Foster, and Theresa Maus and husband Axel; his brothers Gerhard Sander and wife Andrea, Richard Sander Jr. and wife Marisol, John Sander and wife Marie, Stephen Sander and wife Michele; his nieces Jennifer Sullivan, Elle Sander, Lauren Roper and husband Jackson, Michelle Drahuschak and husband Michael, Alexis Sander, and Grace Sander; his nephews Robert Foster and wife Lori, Daniel Foster and wife Kaitlin, Richard Sander and wife Fiona, Jack Sander, Christian Sander and wife Lindsey, and Stephen Sander Jr; his great nieces Willow, Peyton, Ruby, and Riley; his great nephew Forest; his countless friends, companions, admirers, and poker buddies; and last but among most by his “dialysis buddy” Fred, whose unwavering friendship and support was surely a gift from the Divine.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to theAmerican Kidney Fund https://give.kidneyfund.org
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