FRAMINGHAM and OSTERVILLE: Andrew J. Lane, a retired home builder, died peacefully on Friday evening, November 30, 2012. He was 81. Andy was surrounded by his wife of 56 years, Carolyn (Colburn) Lane, their three children and many other family members throughout his last days.
Born, raised and educated in Natick, he was one of John J. and Margaret (Kennedy) Lane’s twelve children. He served with the Army National Guard right out of high school and was called to active duty during the Korean War. Upon his return to Natick, he worked building houses with his brothers while attending Brandeis University. Shortly thereafter he founded the A.J. Lane companies, which, over the next 50 years, developed, built and managed over fourteen thousand single family, apartment and condominium homes throughout Massachusetts, along with some commercial and industrial projects.
Andy and Carolyn lived in the Natick/Framingham area as Andy’s business grew, spending weekends on the Cape until moving there full time in the late '70's. Andy continued to spend his work weeks in Framingham and at his project sites. He was a vital and dynamic force in the development of housing in the Metrowest area, particularly from the '50's through the '90's. His projects ranged from small subdivisions to large apartment and condominium communities such as Chapel Hill on Rte. 9 in Framingham and Fountainhead Apartments in Westborough.
Like most who have founded their own businesses, Andy devoted much of his life to his work which he loved. Work and family were closely linked for him with many members of Andy's extended family working for him over the years. He was also passionate about his family and friends and loved spending time with them, especially at home in Osterville with Carolyn. Andy will be remembered for his eternal optimism, his smile, his great warmth and his love of life and family.
In addition to Carolyn, he his survived by the three children, Stephen B. Lane and his wife Alice Gleason of NY, NY, Jennifer L. Goldstein and her husband Jeffrey of West Newton, and Diane L. Lane and her fiance George Lyons of Douglas; two grandchildren, Samantha and Aaron, two brothers, Richard Lane and his wife Regina of Hudson, and David Lane of Florida; brothers-in-law Henry W. Harrington of Shrewsbury and Carlton B. Colburn of Naples, FL; sisters-in-law Jean Lane and Eleanor Lane of Natick, and Kathleen Lane of Naples, FL; and a great many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Patrick’s Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, on Wednesday, Dec. 5th at 10:00a.m. Burial will follow at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, on Tuesday 4 – 8p.m.
Donations may be made in Andy’s memory to Beacon Hospice (beaconhospice.com) 68 Center St. Suite 19, Hyannis, MA 02601, or the Alzheimer’s Association of MA (alzmass.org) 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.