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Math Teacher's Sudden Death Shocks Midland Park

MIDLAND PARK, N.J. — Midland Park High School math teacher Leon Varjian died suddenly this week, Schools Superintendent Marie Cirasella confirmed today.ALSO SEE: Midland Park Math Teacher Leaves Legacy Of Humor, Humanitarianism

Mr. Varjian at the chalkboard on Dec. 21, 2012 — the day the world was supposed to end. “Mr. Varjian wrote ‘Heaven’ on the board, then erased it and wrote ‘Hell,’ then joked We are in high school! This can’t possibly be heaven!’”

Mr. Varjian at the chalkboard on Dec. 21, 2012 — the day the world was supposed to end. “Mr. Varjian wrote ‘Heaven’ on the board, then erased it and wrote ‘Hell,’ then joked We are in high school! This can’t possibly be heaven!’”

Photo Credit: Tom Giordano

"Mr. Varjian was a beloved MPHS teacher and esteemed colleague," Cirasella wrote in a Tuesday email to parents. "He was dedicated to his students and profession and will be greatly missed."

A 27-year district veteran, Varjian was known both as a prankster in his younger days and as a dedicated humanitarian who worked with students to raise money for various non-profit groups, including area food pantries.

Varjian provided scorecards during school baseball and softball games, collected soup for Thanksgiving food drives, organized toy and coat drives and was a driving force in raising money for a bench in memory of another math teacher, Matt Sayles, who was 26 when he died from cancer in 2011.

School officials will support students, staffers and community partners in their grief, Cirasella said. 

SEND your remembrances of Varjian to rabma@dailyvoice.com

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