David Lane
Obituary Reports the death of an individual, providing an account of the person’s life including their achievements, any controversies in which they were involved, and reminiscences by people who knew them.
David William Lane, 80, of Denver and formerly of Pleasantville and Bangor, Pa., died peacefully on Dec. 21 as the sun rose to greet the solstice. He was surrounded by the daughters, granddaughters and great-niece he loved so dearly.
Born on May 10, 1944, in Mount Kisco to Edna and William Lane, he was the youngest of three children and spent his youth showered by the love of his doting sisters, Edna and Hazel.
He adored Pleasantville and his childhood there. Wherever he landed he always called Pleasantville home. Graduating from Pleasantville High School in 1963, he went on to work as a customer service manager for a local company, a job he did for over 25 years. Additionally, he worked as a stagehand at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway, a job he truly loved. Working on Broadway provided him with endless joy, tons of excitement and, of course, some really great stories to tell.
First and foremost, he was a loving and selfless father, raising his two daughters, April and Alison, as a single dad. He always said that being a dad was, quite simply, the greatest joy of his life. And it showed every single day. He is well-remembered around Pleasantville for always being at his daughters’ games, plays and dance rehearsals, cheering them on, arriving with a hot meal at a late-night musical rehearsal or sitting in the front row with a huge smile on his face. His girls were the light and love of his life.
Along with his daughters, David adored his nephew, Roy. He always said that the moment he held Roy for the first time was the moment he knew he wanted to be a father. He considered him a son and loved and adored him with all of his heart.
Once retired, he turned all of his love and energy to helping raise his two granddaughters, Harley-Phoenix and Albany Reynolds, showing up for them with the same unconditional love, energy and enthusiasm as a “Papa” as he did for being a dad. His granddaughters gave him a whole new life and overflowed his heart with fun and happiness.
He was for many, a father figure, opening his home and his heart to nephews, nieces and young people, providing a listening ear, a lot of advice and a hot cup of tea.
In his later years he was given a wonderful gift, a true adventure partner, his great-niece, Michele. They shared a long, beautiful friendship embarking together on the most exciting escapades, spiritual discoveries and road trips. Thanks to Michele he was able to realize his lifelong dream of traveling all over the United States in an RV. Over the course of a year, they visited 43 states and 17 national parks. The true definition of the adventure of a lifetime. He loved Michele as a daughter, with a heart that was grateful for her every day.
David believed in experiencing nature deeply, observing its details and finding meaning within it. He was a lover of trees, of waterfalls, of the cycles of the moon, of a beautiful sunset and a collector of all things from coins to magazines, as well as an avid reader, lover of fantasy fiction and doo-wop music. The king of dad jokes, he delighted in a good one-liner, eliciting a groan or an eye roll, a man who truly believed that Entenmann’s was its own food group. He was a man of tolerance and acceptance, of opening his mind to new experiences. He was funny, loving, patient and endlessly kind.
It is said that the intensity of our grief is proportionate to the amount of love. And so here we are. Overcome with grief at his passing, how lucky are we all to have had the experience of loving him so much? And of being loved so wholly, and unconditionally loved in return.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Edna Lela Terwilliger (Lane, Sisson); his father, William Scofield Lane; his stepfather, William Wallace Terwilliger; and his sister, Edna Lela Van Sise (Lane).
He leaves behind his sister, Hazel Peters (Frank); his daughters, April Lane and Alison Lane; his granddaughters, Harley-Phoenix Reynolds, Albany Reynolds and Eliza Lane-Bookman; his grandsons, Hollis Lane-Bookman and Gaspar Hernandez; his nephew, Roy Van Sise; his great-niece, Michele Van Sise; his son and grandson-in-law; and scores of greatly adored nieces, nephews and cousins.
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