Olympian Ken Lane remembered
by Carole Stimmell

Ken was a lifetime member of the Balmy Beach Club, where he developed his love of amateur sports. He won his first championship after returning from service in the Air Force in 1946, competing with his friend of 76 years, Hank Farentosh, in the C-2 1,000 metre canoe race. In 1952, paired with Don Hawgood, he won a silver medal in the 10,000 metre race at the Helsinki Olympic Games. Ken’s daughter, Robin Maginniss, said that participating in the Olympics was a family affair. Ken’s brother, Norm Lane, won a bronze medal at the 1948 London games.

Over the years, Ken amassed 14 gold medals in international competitions and 19 Canadian championships.

During the winter, Ken switched sports. He was introduced to squash during his undergraduate years at Victoria College, University of Toronto. He continued to play after graduating in 1949, and in 1974 won the Ontario Singles Championship. In later years, Ken won numerous Canadian Masters and World Masters medals. He continued playing doubles squash until the age of 85.

Ken was also an active member of the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club for more than 50 years and enjoyed a long relationship with the Toronto Racquet Club. He was also a lifetime participant in curling at the Avonlea Club.

Ken was not only an athlete. His contributions to sport include many years of volunteer work. He served as treasurer of the Western Ontario Division of the Canadian Canoe Association from 1945-2000, and was the manager of the Canadian Canoe Team for the 1967 Pan Am Games and the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was an official for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. In 1974, Ken was one of the founders of Canoe Ontario and served as its first president. He served as a Commodore, Flag Officer, President, Treasurer, Director, Announcer and Historian. His awards include the highest CCA award for a volunteer, the R. Edgar Gilbert Award in the builder category. Ken was also the recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Medal for volunteer service. Ken was active as a volunteer in canoeing and continued to be a fundraiser extraordinaire at age 86 (including running more than 1,000 Bingo events).

Ken was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2003.

Ken had a long and successful career at Sears Canada. Ken trained for the Olympics while working full time, said his daughter, putting in long hours after work and on weekends.

“He also had to do fundraising to get his canoe and equipment to Helsinki. I am almost certain that they did not receive any government subsidy's, if they did it was very minimal.

“Dad used his vacation time and I think a LOA [Leave of Absence], to travel and compete in Helsinki.

“Contrast this with today's Olympic athlete, they train almost full time, work very few hours if at all, and receive significant government funding."

After taking early retirement from Sears in 1984, Ken served on the Sears Forum Group. In December, 2009, he delivered the closing note address between two chemotherapy treatments at Princess Margaret.

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Madge. He was the loving father of Christine (Ray) Klassen, Laurel (John) Lane-Moore, Robin (Lew) Maginniss, Lisa (Brian) Lane-Henchey, dear grandfather to Jordan (Tora), Lorian (Brock), Nathan, Josh (Jenn), Joel, Dana, Janine, Adam, Megan, Emily, Matthew and Patrick, and loving brother to Norm (Doris) Lane. Ken was predeceased by his brother Leslie (Jean) and sister Shirley. Ken will be greatly missed by friends and family many of whom expressed their love and admiration for him prior to his passing.

His funeral service was held at St. Nicholas Church on Jan. 28 with a celebration of Ken’s life afterward at the Balmy Beach Club. Donations to the Princess Margaret Foundation, leukemia cancer research would be appreciated. Condolences and memories may be sent to the McDougall and Brown website www.mcdbrownscarb.ca.