WALL John Lane, Jr.
- John Tracy Lane, Jr. of Wall Township --a big man with a bigger heart --- passed away on April 12, 2024 at the age of 64 after a brief illness. He departed this life in the same way he spent much of it, holding the hand of his beloved wife of 34 years, Mary Fran.
With a personality that was larger than life, John was known among his family and friends as The Big Dog. Not just because of his stature, but due to his commanding presence, massive generosity, and the immense care he showed those he loved --- none more than Mary Fran and his children Katie and John III, whom he adored. He had a tough exterior, but he never said no to a friend or neighbor in need.
John cherished spending time with his family, and he showed his love in many ways including gourmet cooking. Give him three ingredients and he could cook up a decadent five course meal. He took Katie shopping, launched model rockets with John III, worked side by side with Mary Fran at countless GOP events, and shared with them all his appreciation for politics, history and the music of Jimmy Buffet, Jackson Browne, and Cat Stevens. Conventional wisdom may say that a father shouldn’t be best friends with his kids, but Katie and John would disagree.
An attorney-at-law in private practice who received his bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University and a Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University, John Lane was highly respected throughout Monmouth County and New Jersey. Over the course of his career, he served as Municipal Prosecutor for more than a dozen Monmouth County towns, and was serving in Wall Township, Middletown and Union Beach at the time of his passing, as well as serving as the Union Beach Borough Attorney and a Monmouth County Special Counsel. Admitted to the bar in NJ, Louisiana, and the United States
District Court from 1987 until his death, he was an associate at the firm of Dowd & Reilly prior to entering private practice.
Despite his enforcer bona fides, he never turned down a good party and looked back fondly on his days working at the legendary LSU bar, Fred’s in Tigerland. And when he approached a pool table, John channeled his inner Jackie Gleason/Minnesota Fats --- his billiard skills were the stuff of local legend, earning him the title “Hustler.” His other title was “Mr. Golf.” He was tough but fun; gifted and respected; loved but just a little bit feared.
He was a member of the Wall Republican Club, Affiliated Republican Club of Monmouth County, Monmouth County Republican County Committee Member, and a former elected member of the Wall Township Board of Education.
John T. Lane Jr. was predeceased by his parents, John Tracy Lane, Sr. and Beverly (Shields) Lane. He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Frances (Roche) Lane; his children Kathryn Elizabeth (“Katie”) and John Tracy III; siblings Melissa and Randy Creger of Simpsonville, KY; Christopher and Lisa Lane of Middletown; Matthew Lane of Middletown; Kelli Lane of Middletown; his Roche “siblings” James Sr. and Tracy Roche of Daniel Island, SC; Sarah Adams of Atlantic Highlands; John M. Roche Sr. of Punta Gorda, FL; and Kerry Roche of Cowpens, SC.
John is also survived by his treasured nieces and nephews: Rachael Creger-Shufeldt and Tucker Creger; Paige and Nicholas Lane; Blake, Hunter, Samantha and Madison Lane; James Jr., Kelly and Colleen Roche and Serge & Sara; Lauren, Casey and Jack Roche; and precious great nieces Miss Ireland Joy and Miss Jamie Mattelyn.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. at St. Denis Roman Catholic Church, 90 Union Avenue, Manasquan, NJ. John had such a big heart; his family needs you so in lieu of flowers please consider make a donation to John T Lane Memorial Go Fund Me Page. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.