Marvin Lane of Natick, formerly of Cranford, New Jersey, died on December 5th at the age of 98 after a brief illness. Born in Philadelphia to Molly (Stein) and David Lane, he was the beloved husband of the late Alberta (Shukis) Lane, father of Andrew and Norma Lane of Natick, and David Lane and Melanie Podsiadlo of New Marlborough, MA. He was also the much-loved grandfather of Christopher, Michael, Aron, and Zoe Lane.
Marvin grew up in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, where he developed a love of science. He graduated with distinction from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science with a degree in chemistry in 1940. He planned to pursue an advanced degree in synthetic organic chemistry but he went to work for the Permutit Co and never got back to graduate school. During World War II, he worked on war related projects including a kit for downed pilots to make a week’s supply of drinkable water from sea water. He subsequently had a long career in the industrial water treatment business moving from the lab to the executive side as president of what would become the Graver Water Division of Marmon Corp. He oversaw the development of large water and waste treatment plants in the United States and around the world.
Marvin had a lifelong love of music, reading, gardening, and woodcarving. Legally blind from macular degeneration for many years, he kept his sense of humor to the very end. Donations may be made to the BrightFocus Foundation to support macular degeneration research.
At Mr. Lane’s request, services will be held in private under the direction of the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, at Natick Common.