Deceased August 14, 2016

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50th Reunion Book Entry

In Memory

After a lifetime of doing the Lord’s work, Bob was called to his heavenly reward last Aug. 14 in Cromwell, Conn. A New Englander all his life, he was born in New Hampshire but grew up in Torrington, Conn.

Bob came to Amherst in 1943, was a member of Alpha Delt and got in two semesters before joining the Calvary and served two years in the army. He was a math major but also a minister’s son, and he then went to Hartford Theological Seminary to determine if ministry was his calling.

One of the best results of his seminary years was that he met his future wife Fidelia. They were married in 1951 and both were later ordained. He served as pastor at three locations: the First Congregational Church in Baraboo, Wis., for five years; the Congregational Church United in Branford, Conn., for 10 years; and from 1967 to 1990 in the Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Enfield, Conn, where he retired at the end of 1991 and then lived in Windsor, Conn.

A wise and much beloved counselor, his focus was on community service and promoting cooperation between denominations and clergy of different faiths. Much of his work in Enfield was on the delivery of mental health and medical services. Most recently, his efforts with his local church and others had been to welcome and affirm people of all sexual orientations, races and economic status.

Sailing was one of Bob’s great pleasures, and he served as dean for church summer camps. He managed to fit in a fair amount of travel, including the West Coast and the Abacos in the Bahamas as well as their family cottage in Maine.

Surviving are two daughters, two sisters and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Fidelia, a son William, a brother George and a sister Charlotte. As I read this over, and as many of you knew, he was truly a man of God who served his faith and his community in a most exemplary manner. Another classmate of whom we can be genuinely proud.

Gerry Reilly ’49

50th Reunion

I started Amherst in the summer of 1943 and got in two semesters before February '44, when I went into the Cavalry and then the Armored Forces for a couple of years. I came back to Amherst in the fall of 1946 and finished with the class of '49 and a math major.

Robert Lane

After graduating from Amherst, I went to Hartford Theological Seminary, while 1tried to decide if the ministry was my calling. One of the best results of my Seminary years was that I met Fidelia Augur there and we were married in May 1951. Fidie and I have three caring and very satisfying children: William, 44; Becky Keefe, 42; and Janet Armstrong, 40. We thoroughly enjoy the world's greatest grandchildren, Anna Keefe, 6, and Toby Armstrong, 3.

Fidie and I both received the Bachelor of Divinity Degree in May of 1952. I was ordained on Pentecost, June 1, 1952. (She was not ordained until 1971.) - An interesting sidelight is that our Congregational Churches then were so non-liturgical that on the day I was ordained, I didn't even know it was Pentecost although that is one of the most appropriate days for an ordination. In the years since then, the ecumenical movement and our merger into the United Church of Christ have taught me to appreciate the value of the Church year as well as put me much more In touch with churches of other traditions.

Robert Lane
Over the years I've served three parishes as pastor: from 1952 to 1957 The First Congregational Church in Baraboo, WI; from 1957 to 1967, The Cong'I Church, United Church of Christ, in North Branford, CT; and from 1967to 1990, The Enfield Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Enfield, CT. I retired on December 31, 1991, and since then have lived here in Windsor, CT.