Lane Gilbert

Lane Thomas Gilbert Sept. 17, 1963 - Aug. 27, 2010 Lane, 46, a native Californian, was born in Berkeley in 1963. He was killed on August 27, 2010 in Santa Maria Coytopec, a small village South of Oaxaca, Mexico. His body was found last Saturday, October 16, 2010. Lane was a man who lived life to the fullest - a man for all seasons. Full of energy and enthusiasm, he traveled to Oaxaca during his senior year at the University of California in Santa Cruz, to write his thesis on the street children of Oaxaca. There he fell in love with the City, its people, and with his partner of 25 years, David Perez. Eighteen years ago he and David made Mexico their permanent home, building a house in San Andreas Huayapam, just outside of town. As a toddler Lane lived in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended elementary school in both Orinda and Moraga, California. While junior high school he lived with his family in Helena, Montana. Lane attended high school at Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo, California. Just one week before his disappearance he returned to California to attend his 29th high school reunion at Drake's School Within A School. Reconnecting with his old friends and teachers, was such a joyful time for him. Over the years Lane was a general contractor, a real estate agent and a stained glass artist, donating several of his beautiful stained glass windows to 17th Century churches in both his own and the neighboring village of Tlalixtac de Cabrera. His windows also hang in hotels and municipal buildings in Mexico Because he respected the value of education, he helped many students attain their post-secondary degrees at a number of schools in Oaxaca. Lane is survived by his partner, David Perez Zarate of San Andreas Huyapam, Mexico; his mother, Jerilyn Gilbert and her partner Susan Efros of Fairfax; his brother Reid Gilbert and his partner John Fox of Santa Rosa; an uncle, Gary Gilbert of Roseville; Blair Gilbert of Riverside; step-brother Jonathan Hodgkin of Santa Barbara; many cousins and deep friends both in the United States and in Mexico, and a large extended family in Oaxaca. He is now at peace with his father, the late Howard Mel Gilbert, as well as his adoring grandparents Trudy and Ted Cherin; and Helen and Jules Gilbert. His laugh and light will be missed by us all. A memorial service in Lane's honor will be forthcoming, after his brother Reid, returns from Mexico. The family asks that any donations in Lane's memory be made to Scholar Match, a San Francisco organization that helps college bound students who need assistance, pay for their college tuition. Contact outreach@scholarmatch.org or telephone 415-642-2776; or to Defenders of Wildlife, an organization dedicated to the protection of wolves and other endangered species. Defenders of Wildlife, 1130 17th Street. NW, Washington, DC 20036 . defenders.org