Donna Jean Lane

Donna Jean Lane passed away peacefully at home on Saturday November 18 surrounded by her loving family following a brief illness. Born in Lincoln, Illinois on March 28, 1930 to Arthur and Luella Gimbel, Jean, as she was known to friends, developed a deep and lasting love and appreciation for nature and had a consuming curiosity about the world and everything thing in it; she was indeed a person who could “see the universe in a grain of sand”.

From a young age, she walked with her parents in the Illinois woods every spring, discovering the earliest blooming wildflowers, mushrooms, salamanders, birds’ nests and all manner of living creatures. As a Girl Scout, the first badge she achieved was the Tree Finder’s Badge. Jean’s interest in rocks led her to take a course in geology during her freshman year at Northwestern University.

Jean graduated from Northwestern with a B.S. degree in 1952, majoring in art history and interior design. While working as an interior designer in Chicago, she was introduced to Bill Lane, the love of her life. Bill and Jean married in 1955 and started a lifetime partnership of raising children, protecting the environment, serving and strengthening the community and helping the less fortunate. Over the next fifty-five years, their life together included Bill’s work as Publisher of Sunset Magazine, as well as his Ambassadorships in Japan and Australia. Jean, alongside Bill, brought the taste and spirit of the American west to Australia through their legendary Sunset hospitality. Jean’s commitment to teaching others led her to develop a Teacher’s Resource Center in Science and Technology at Canberra University.

Jean’s community involvement and accomplishments are many and varied. She was a founding member of the Westridge Garden Club of Portola Valley, a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, a board member of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C, a member of the Governing Board of Filoli Center and a member of the President’s Cabinet at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. She was also a long-time docent and supporter of Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve where she loved to take people on hikes to observe the native plants and wildlife. A highlight of these hikes was a glimpse of a mountain lion, which thrilled rather than scared her.

Jean has been a long time supporter of her alma mater, Northwestern University. In 1996 the College of Arts and Sciences named the Jean Lane Humanities professorship. Music nurtured Jean’s soul. In 2005 she endowed the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance at Northwestern University. In 1976, Jean’s life-long interest in music led her to form a baroque trio called The Portola Trio. The Trio’s practice sessions and performances gave her much joy.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her sister Mary Lou and her nephew Arthur Gimbel, Jr.. She is survived by her children Sharon Louise Lane, Robert Laurence Lane of Atherton, CA, Brenda Lane Munks (Greg) of Portola Valley, CA, her brother Arthur Gimbel (Caroline) of San Mateo, CA, her grandchildren Bryan Munks, Keighley Lane, Riley Munks, Jessica Munks and Cristina Munks.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Jean’s longtime Personal Assistant, Karen Hamilton, and her devoted caregivers: Karen Alfonso, Elsa Bustos and Maria Manalang.

Jean’s was a deep and abiding Christian faith. Jean and Bill were members of Valley Presbyterian Church from its early days of services held at Portola Valley School. She helped establish a Bible Garden with friends at the current location on Portola Road. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Valley Presbyterian Church, 945 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028.

In lieu of flowers please send contributions in memory of Donna Jean Lane to National Tropical Botanical Garden, 3530 Papalina Road, Kalaheo, HI 96741. Inside everything and

everybody Is much more than meets

the eye. Stay open to that which

lies within us all, And let charity conquer the mall!

-- Jean lane