Matthew S. Bender

Matthew (“Matt”) Bender died unexpectedly, at the age of 43, while quarantining due to COVID-19.

Matt was born in Port Chester, New York to Howard and Patricia Bender. He was raised in Glen Rock, New Jersey, attending Coleman Elementary School and Glen Rock Junior & Senior High School.  While in school, Matt developed a lifelong passion for basketball and played on the junior varsity team. He graduated from Glen Rock High School in 1995.

Matt enjoyed working and conversing with people of all ages and took pleasure from helping others.  This was most apparent from his work as a medical assistant in a cardiologist’s office, where, after receiving a medical assistant degree from Lincoln Tech, he took great pride when patients requested him by name.  Most recently he worked at Houlihan’s in Ramsey, NJ.  

A life-long learner, Matt enjoyed non-fiction television, particularly documentaries on the History and Discovery Channels, and was a long-time fan of the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Mets.  He was devoted to his family and rarely missed a family gathering.  Matt adored his beautiful and accomplished daughter, Jazmin Bender, and had been looking forward to celebrating her college graduation in 2022.  

Matt is survived by his parents; beloved daughter Jazmin; sister Jennifer Claire Bender (and husband Stephen Carl Jansen); aunt and godmother Kathleen (and her partner Stacy); niece Sabrina; and many cousins.  He was predeceased by his poppy John (Jack); grandmother Clara; nana Grace; grandmother Gloria and grandfather Seymour.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ.  A funeral mass is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at the Immaculate Conception Church, 900 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah, NJ. To view Matt’s live streaming of his funeral mass please log on to iccmahwah.org

Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Matt’s memory be made to Eva’s Village, 393 Main St., Paterson, NJ, 07501 (evasvillage.org) or a charity of your choice.