Eric Mellish Lane

Although he lived in Toronto for 63 years he always considered himself a Nova Scotian.

Born, raised, and educated in Nova Scotia, Eric moved to Toronto for a job with the legal department of CNR. When it became known that he was a trained pilot, Eric began acting on behalf of Air Canada and their insurers. Moving to a small firm, Eric travelled to many parts of the world to deal with aviation accidents of all types and the ensuing legal actions. Later on, he joined the law firm Miller Thomson and worked there until his retirement.

As soon as Eric arrived in Toronto he joined 411 Squadron, a reserve unit of the RCAF. With his excellent hand-eye coordination, he became a skilled jet pilot, flying on weekends for ten years. Always a keen athlete, Eric played baseball, hockey, rugby, tennis, basketball, badminton and then settled on golf. Finally, in 2014, his last year of play, Eric hit a hole-in-one at Cedar Brae Golf Club, his home away from home for over forty years.

In retirement Eric joined a company carrying food into war zones in Africa. Using de Havilland Buffalo planes, they could land in impossibly small air fields and deliver food aid.

Congestive heart failure grounded Eric and gradually narrowed his life to TV for movies and basketball games.

His grandchildren continued to be of great interest. “What news of the kids” was his favourite question.

Married for 62 years, Eric leaves his wife, Laura, a fellow Nova Scotian three sons, Chris (Jo-Anne), Andrew (Dörte) and Steven (Claire), his sister Rosemary, and as well as seven grandchildren, Eva (Chris Laser), Ben, Eric, Mathew, Fiona, Carly and Abbey.

A Celebration of Eric's Life will be held on May 16th at 1:30 p.m. at Kane Funeral Home, 6150 Yonge Street. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or North York General Hospital.