David J. Lane

David J. Lane, 79, of Plum, a longtime teacher and coach at the Kiski School in Saltsburg passed away peacefully Monday, July 25, 2016, at the Presbyterian Senior Care Center after a short illness. David was the son of the late Joseph and Dorothy (Sullivan) Lane, of North Andover, Mass. He is survived by his cousin, Mary-Frances (Sullivan) Doiron and her husband, Robert, and their children, Sarah and Matthew Doiron. He also leaves behind countless friends and several godchildren and dear friends, Bill and Joan Tadler and John and Geri Lombardo. Dr. Lane was educated in the North Andover, Mass., public schools. Upon graduation, he enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst intending to study chemistry. Shortly thereafter, he discovered a love and proficiency for the German language and thus began his lifelong study of world languages. After graduating from UMass, where he captained the men's gymnastics team, David continued his study of German at the University of Pennsylvania and later earned a master's degree in education at the University of Rhode Island. He received a Doctor of Modern Languages degree from Middlebury College, Vt., in 1994. Dr. Lane's teaching career began at Portsmouth Abbey in Portsmouth, R.I. in 1962. As a German teacher, dormitory master, counselor and coach, he was a well-respected member of the school community for 13 years. While there, he began the practice of traveling with students to Germany for school trips where he shared his love of the German language and culture. In 1975, Dr. Lane became a member of the Kiski School faculty and served for the next 41 years as a German teacher, AP psychology teacher, diving, soccer and track coach, and house master. Truly a lifelong learner himself, he pursued the study of multiple languages that also included Russian, Irish, Latin and French. He was a beloved educator who took great pride in the fact that he had instructed multiple generations of Kiski students. He is to be inducted posthumously into the Kiski Athletic Hall of Fame in September. Dr. Lane was an active member of the Pittsburgh-area community. He was a lector and Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Joy Parish, a member of the Gaelic Arts Society of Pittsburgh and a tireless volunteer for Democratic Party initiatives. A world traveler, David pursed numerous hobbies but his love of reading was paramount. He will best be remembered as a person generous with his time and for his tireless devotion to his students, friends and family.
Friends will be warmly received from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the MAURICE L. KNEE LTD. FUNERAL HOME, 7663 Saltsburg Road (across from S&T Bank), Plum. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Joy Roman Catholic Church, 2000 O'Block Road, Plum, PA 15239. Everyone please meet at the church. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the The Kiski School Office of Advancement, 1888 Brett Lane, Saltsburg, PA 15681.