FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 20, 2025
CONTACT:
Derek Sands
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OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM BERGEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE JIM TEDESCO
HACKENSACK, NJ – Statement from Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco on the passing of former Fair Lawn Mayor and Bergen County Freeholder David L. Ganz:
Today, Bergen County lost a giant.
David L. Ganz was a dedicated public servant, a brilliant legal mind, a nationally respected expert in coin collecting, and most importantly—a kind and decent man who gave so much of himself to the people of Bergen County.
David and I shared many chapters in public service. We were both mayors at the same time and later served together on the then-Board of Chosen Freeholders. In fact, David was my running mate when I first ran for County Executive in 2014—a campaign that marked the beginning of a new chapter for the County, and one he was instrumental in helping shape.
David had an encyclopedic knowledge of government and New Jersey politics. He could quote statutes, recall budgets from memory, and go line-by-line through the most complicated financial documents—always with clarity and purpose. He was a passionate advocate for our veterans and a steady voice in our conversations around fiscal responsibility, public engagement, and transparency.
He also believed deeply in an approach to service rooted in mutual respect. David showed that people could disagree without being disagreeable—that bipartisanship, decency, and common ground still mattered in government. That example is more important now than ever.
But his impact went far beyond the halls of government. David was a mentor to countless young staffers and emerging leaders, always generous with his time and wisdom. He was a published author and a renowned coin collector—credited as the “Father of the U.S. Mint’s State Quarters Program,” a lasting cultural legacy that reached millions of Americans.
He was also a devoted friend and a loving husband. His warmth and intellect, his humility and wit—these are the qualities that will endure in the hearts of all who knew him.
On behalf of Bergen County, I extend my deepest condolences to the Ganz family and to all those mourning this tremendous loss. May his memory be a blessing.