In 1961, Mr. Bob Buesser moved to Hillsdale just in time to start his freshman year of high school. Fifty-seven years later, he is still here at Pascack Valley.

After working at PV as the attendance officer for 21 years, Bob Buesser officially retired on Oct. 31.

Buesser’s decision to retire was due to his physical condition and health.

“It was a struggle for me to get to work every day,” Buesser said. “Physically, I just couldn’t do it.”

Buesser started his freshman year of PV in 1961 and went on to graduate in 1965.

“I basically lived and worked in Hillsdale since 1961,” Buesser said. “This school was part of me.”

From there, Buesser worked as a police officer and later as a detective for the Hillsdale Police Department.

In 1982, he was approached by Mr. Jeff Jasper, the PV athletic director at the time, but currently a history teacher and girls basketball coach. Jasper offered Buesser a coaching position for the freshman football team. Buesser, having had experience from coaching Hillsdale Pee Wee football, accepted the offer and went on to coach football, indoor track, and baseball at PV.  

In 1997, Buesser retired from the Hillsdale Police Department. At this time, he was approached by the Frank Sullivan, PV’s school administrator, and informed of the open position of PV’s attendance officer.

Buesser took the job and has “been here ever since.”

As the attendance officer, Buesser recalled that a typical day began with students walking in late. Then, he would go through 60 to 70 voicemail messages every morning, sorting out the students who were not coming to school and those that had to leave early. He would also create daily field trip lists and update the attendance records.

For Buesser, his favorite part of the job was just being part of the environment at PV.

“I just loved it,” Buesser said. “I loved being around people.”

Buesser said that he did not feel like working at PV was an actual “job” because he truly enjoyed coming to work every day.

Although retired now, Buesser still comes to PV to volunteer and assist Mr. Shawn Buchanan, the current athletic director. With Buchanan, he checks bussing and schedules and itemizes things for budgets.

“I was grateful for this [volunteering] opportunity came along for me to do something,” Buesser said.

As for Mrs. Lauren Bielan, the new attendance officer, Buesser expressed that without a doubt in his mind, he is sure that she’ll do a great job.

While Buesser may have retired from his official working position, it is not an end to his journey at PV. Rather, it is a new beginning.