Obituary

Boston Herald
July 31, 2007

OBITUARY

At 73, the Rev. James Lane, Boston Police Dept. Chaplain

The Rev. James H. Lane of South Boston, first chaplain of the Boston Police Department, died Saturday at Marion Manor. He was 73.

The Rev. Lane was a lifelong resident of South Boston.

He graduated from South Boston High School in 1952 and was an Army veteran of the Korean War.

The Rev. Lane was a former associate at St. Paul's Church, Dorchester, and later at St. Brendan's Church, also of Dorchester.

He was pastor of St. Brendan's Church from 1982 to 1996, prior to serving as associate of St. Augustine's Church, South Boston.

He was late chaplain of Roxbury Juvenile Court, Boston Juvenile Court and the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association; first chaplain of the Boston Police Department, the Boston Police Emerald Society and the South Boston Irish American Society; and chaplain of the Retired Boston Police Officers Association and COPS for Kids with Cancer.

"He was a priest's priest," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "He was there with the police during the tough times, the turbulant times, but he was a quiet man. A gentle giant. There was no greater person wearing the collar then Father Lane."

The Rev. Lane is survived by four sisters, Helen C. Kehoe of Waltham, Marilyn R. Putney of Dedham, Rosemary of Florida, Karen of Newton and N.H.; and two brothers, Timothy of Utah, and Kevin of Saugus.

The Rev. Lane will lay in state at St. Brendan's Church from 2 to 8 p.m. today.

A pontifical funeral Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley at St. Brendan's Church at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Burial will be in New Calvary Cemetery, Dorchester.

Arrangements by J.F. O'Brien & Sons, South Boston.