HARBESON - Donald J. Van Sciver, born April 18, 1932, passed away on Sept. 28, 2010. He was the son of the late Wilbur and Elizabeth (Parry) Van Sciver and father of the late Jean Marie Van Sciver. He leaves behind, his loving wife, Virginia Graybeal Van Sciver, to whom he was married for sixty years. He also leaves behind his son, James Van Sciver and his wife Jodie Osgood; his daughter, Constance Hill and her husband Peter; and his son, Daniel Van Sciver. He leaves his beloved grandchildren, Nick and Erica Van Sciver, Stefan, Cerise, and Christa Hill, and Brittany Van Sciver. Don was born in Bayonne New Jersey. He graduated from Bayonne Technical High School in 1950 after which he worked for a year as a printer's apprentice on the Bayonne Times. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1951 and served honorably during the Korean War. His service was on the USS Howard W. Gilmore AS16 based in Key West Florida. After honorable discharge he attended Salisbury State College for one year and then matriculated at the Carnegie Institute of Technology from which he graduated in 1959 with a BS in Printing Management. Don and his young family moved to Richmond Virginia where he worked in the printing field for four years. He then returned to Bayonne to begin his career in education as a printing teacher at Bayonne High School. In 1969 they relocated to Wilmington where Don helped start the new Delcastle Technical High School. During this time he earned his Masters in Education from Rutgers University. While teaching at Delcastle, Don also entered politics, being elected State Representative in 1979 in a special election. This election was crucial because it switched the House leadership from Democrat to Republican. The Republican majority enabled Governor Pete DuPont to pass legislation that put the State back on sound fiscal footing. Don Van Sciver was Assistant Principal of the Howard Career center for eight years. In 1987 Don became the Principal of the Sussex County Vo-Tech Center, a position which he held until his retirement in 1991. Upon his retirement Don and his wife Virginia volunteered at the Sussex Family YMCA for many years, serving on the YMCA Board of Directors including a two year term as the Chairman. Don's favorite hobbies were fishing, crabbing and reading. He especially loved taking his grandchildren crabbing. Don was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan. A Memorial Mass will be 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, at St. Michaels Catholic Church, 202 Edward Street, Georgetown, with visitation after 10 a.m. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Sussex Family YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, 20080 Church Street, Rehoboth, DE 19971 (302) 227-8018. Arrangements handled by Short Funeral Services, Georgetown.