I just found out on Monday of Lane's passing and was terribly sad.  We used to get together and talk Naval Aviators, airplanes, rocks and anything else that came up.  He was very supportive of me at St Ann's and I will miss him.  He was a feisty, calming and loving presence in the world and a very wise man, after all he married Caroline! My condolences to Caroline and to his entire family and my prayers will add you all.   I give great thanks that I was able to know him for so brief a time.

April 27, 2013

I am so saddened by Lane Denson's passing.  Yet, I'm cheered by memories of him in the late 1950's, as he led St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and the Canterbury Association in Beaumont, TX.  He was a friend to all of us, and we returned the favor. 

Judith Aronow

San Marcos, TX

I just discovered that Lane passed last November.  My condolences to family and friends.  

Lane holds a special place in my heart.  I was a student at Vanderbilt Divinity School in the late 80's and Lane was my field placement supervisor at The Vanderbilt Institute For the Treatment of Addiction (VITA).  He introduced me to the amazing world of substance abuse treatment and 12-step recovery. I loved it.

The day I walked into his office at St. Augustine's Chapel for an interview for VITA turned out to be the most pivotal day of my three years at the divinity school.

I had gone to the Vanderbilt with the goal of becoming an Army chaplain (which never happened). But my placement at VITA, along with Lane's guidance, opened up for me my true calling:  substance abuse counseling.

I have worked as a professional A & D therapist for the past 23 years (the last ten with the Veteran's Administration). I now know that my career in substance abuse treatment was a much better vocational fit for me than the military chaplaincy or other forms of ministry.  

After graduating from Vanderbilt I moved to Florida to work in substance abuse treatment and I lost contact with him but I never forgot what he passed on to me in our supervisory sessions and also by Lane just being himself. 

I regret I did not let him know what a major impact he had on my life. I believe that the help I have been able to offer to thousands of patients over the years is due in large part to the guidance and insights he taught me about how to help those who are struggling with addiction.
 
I still have the book (Matthew Fox's The Coming Of The Cosmic Christ)he gave me as a gift at the end of our year together. 

He inscribed on the flyleaf:

To Larry Condra

With much gratitude for a good and enriching year 1988-1989.

Peace, Lane Denson at VITA

And what a year it turned out to be! 

Thank you Lane for the positive impact you had on my life and that of so many others. 

Lane, with much gratitude and thanks; rest in the eternal peace.

Larry Condra, MDiv '90 Vanderbilt Divinity School

I learned today of Lane's death, and I grieve his loss, and celebrate his entrance into God's nearer presence.  While he was my chaplain at Rice, he led me to a deeper, and yes, liberal Christian faith.  Largely due to his example, I was ordained and have been an Episcopal priest for 47 years.  Thank, you, Lane.  

Phillip Strange (Wrightwood, CA)

Dear Caroline and Family,
We deeply regret that we could not be here for the celebration of Lane's full life. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and Lane in our memories. May he rest in peace and may God comfort you in your great loss.

Lane Denson was our college chaplain at Rice University in the early 60's, and we reconnected about 10 years ago and kept in touch until recent months. He was a genius at reminding us of what we already knew was important, and challenging us to live it out.

I read and corresponded with "Lane." I had no idea that was his middle name! 

He was amazingly good at his writing and I shall miss it a lot. 

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

I knew Lane from the days when he was my father's assistant at All Saints' Austin, Texas. I was touched beyond words when he came to Daddy's funeral in San Antonio in 2005. His gentle presence made a hard day a little easier. 
My mother joins me in sending love and prayers to his family.

Lane was a voice of reason and truth during difficult days in the Diocese of Tennessee. His kindness to those starting out in ministry and his prophetic voice will be missed.

Lane and Caroline welcomed me into their home and their lives when I landed in the Diocese of TN to care for my elderly parents and without benefit of employment.  I loved them right away.  There will never be another Lane Denson!

I began a correspondence with Lane in 2006 through work on The Episcopal Majority, where we found we were mutual admirers of each others' writing. I will miss the wit and wisdom he shared through our e-correspondence. 
Rest in peace, my friend.

I feel so lucky to have known Lane.  He has a special place in my heart and in my memories,

God rest his soul. It is hard to imagine that the OON articles will not be the first thing I read in the mornings when he wrote and posted them. He has been a constant inspiration to me, and I've had the opportunity with his permission to share so many of his thoughts with dear friends and members of the congregation of St. Andrew's in Roswell, NM. Our sympathy to you and your family.

It was a honor to publish Lane's work and to call him my friend.  My deepest sympathy and prayers for comfort go to wonderful Caroline and the rest of the family.  

We will not see his like again.

Oh... He'll rest in peace. He's due. He did plenty while wandering the earth via typewriter and an assortment of folk. Now it's his turn to let it all be. And for him to finally, and simply, just "be." No intellect necessary. A long overdue rising of the body and quieting of the mind.

Lane was a man of many talents.  I am proud to be an alumnus of of the Monday Night Jazz Band in which I played bass for a time.  Lane called me from the hospital a couple of weeks ago to apologize for having to cancel our next jam session and to ask when we could re-schedule!  Perhaps one of his greatest contribution was his insightful and inspiring column "Out of Nowhere", whose name was based on the jazz tune of the same name.  His quick wit, and his willinigness to speak his mind about religion or politics or whatever will be missed.  Here is a quote from one of the last columns I received from Lane. Here he is talking about a recent trip he and his darling Caroline made to Texas for the anniversary of the Seminary where he received his ministerial training: "The occasion was brought about by attending the 60th anniversary of my seminary's short life and my being the soul survivor of the founding class.  I must say that the present dean who is a late comer to that post and other such leaders seemed more pleased to see me than their predecessors had during the founding times.  Maybe it was because my founding grades were somehow never mentioned."
Somehow, "Rest in Peace" does not fit the Lane I knew!
G.R.Davis
Kingston Springs, TN

Lane took me under his wing when I served as the first female Rector in the Diocese of Tennessee. He taught me about faith and humor, intensity in the world, responsibility to the Word,  and the space between the notes.  I will be forever indebted for the wisdom imparted.  Blessings upon his family,
Mary Anne Akin

I shall greatly miss our Monday night jam sessions. Our deepest sympathy to Caroline.

Ralph and Jane Black

He was a special man in many ways. I always enjoyed serving with him and will miss the"Big Guy".

A wonderful man.  God bless him and his family.  He will be missed.

Marge and I are very sorry for the loss of Lane. Codolences to the family at this time.

OBITUARY

John Lane Denson

February 4, 1923 – November 21, 2012

Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home

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