Eugene Numa Lane ’58

Gene Lane died Jan. 1, 2007, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He came to Princeton from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. At Princeton, he majored in classics, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa after three years, and was our class salutatorian. He also was chairman of the Nassau Lit.

His whole career was spent in academia. After earning a master’s and doctorate at Yale, Gene spent four years at the University of Virginia before moving to the University of Missouri. During his career he was chairman of the classics department as well as director of graduate studies. Gene taught a variety of courses in ancient and modern Greek, a few in Latin, and other classes, taught in English, covering classical civilization. In 2000 he became professor emeritus.

Gene made very significant contributions to the study of ancient religion, especially in cults of the Roman imperial period. His many scholastic works advanced the knowledge and understanding of the ancient world and will continue to provide assistance to scholars of the future.

To his wife, Carol, whom he married in 1964; his children, Michael and Helen; and his grandchild; the class extends its deepest sympathy.