My deepest condolences to Hana's family and friends. I remember her from our Shaker High School homeroom as being a delightful person. I was so glad that I was able to hang out with her for a while at our 50th Class Reunion in 2014. For me, this makes her passing all the more poignant since I expected to see her again at another reunion. I am sure her friends and family continue to hold fond memories of her. I am sure she made many good causes during her lifetime to love and support others.
I'm so sorry to learn of this. My heart goes out to her husband, John and sister, Jitka. Hana and Jitka were close friends of mine in high school and I have such fond memories of them. Hana and I reconnected at the 50th reunion and got together a couple of times afterward. She was the same wonderful person I remembered: joyful, smart and working to make life better for everyone around her. The world is a lessor place without Hana. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/stamfordadvocate/name/hana-lane-obituary?id=32506560
Hana Lane
Hana Umlauf Lane, 75, of Stamford, CT, passed away on January 21, 2022.
Hana was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on March 14, 1946. At the time, her father, Karl Umlauf, was a Czech diplomat posted in Sweden. Her mother, Tolja Umlauf, was originally from Estonia. Not long after Czechoslovakia was taken over by the communists in 1948, the Umlaufs emigrated to the U.S. from Sweden.
Hana spent most of her childhood in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, where she graduated from Shaker Heights High School. She attended Vassar College, where she majored in Russian Language and Literature, and graduated in 1968. After college she attended Yale University, where she received an M.A. in Russian and East European Studies in 1970.
After graduate school, Hana moved to New York City to pursue a long and successful career in publishing – first as Senior Editor of The World Almanac and then as Acquisitions Editor at John Wiley & Sons.
When she retired from publishing in 2012, Hana became deeply involved with Building One Community, a nonprofit organization in Stamford, CT, which helps immigrants successfully integrate into U.S. society. As the child of immigrants herself, she often said this was her "true calling." She was learning Spanish and was being trained on immigration law when she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2018. Hana showed tremendous courage and determination after her stroke and was making a remarkable recovery at the time of her death.
Among her many other interests, Hana also loved sailing (she and John were/are active members of the Stamford Yacht Club), opera, shopping for antiques, travel (especially if it involved sailing), being fussed over on her birthday, and cooking exquisite meals for friends and family.
Hana is survived by John, her loving husband of 42 years, by her stepson, Mathew Lane, his wife Elizabeth and their sons Max and Frazer, and by her twin sister Jitka Umlauf Wiley, her brother-in-law John Wiley, their son Karl Wiley, his wife Sarah, and their 3 children, Owen, Emma, and Fiona.
Hana was dearly loved and her passing is a tremendous loss for all of her many, many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Hana's memory to Building One Community in Stamford, CT. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. (website: https:building1community.org/donate)
It is hard to imagine a world without Hana in it. We traveled in the same circle in high school, playing bridge and laughing over the silliest stuff. The story of how her family came to Ohio always fascinated me. She and her sister were so bright. I marveled how quickly they grasped concepts. (Perhaps envied). Her life was well lived. David's and my deepest sympathy to her family and to Jitka who has lost her other half.
Special thanks to Arthur for posting Hana's impressive and touching obit. I, too, remember Hana and Jitka well from high school. Hana's was clearly a life well lived, and one that made our world a better place. Sad, however, to know her final years were complicated by a stroke. She will indeed live on in the memories of so many
I remember being friends with Hana and Jitka in elementary school and they were very nice and a lot of fun. I am so sorry to hear about Hana's medical problems, but it is clear that she was surrounded by love.
Truly sorry to learn of passing of Hana. From Lomond elementary through high school, I had great admiration for Hana and Jitka--- very special women. And although I never knew the family, I send my sincerest condolences to all.
Robert Louis Taliaferro, III
My deepest condolences to Hana's family and friends. I remember her from our Shaker High School homeroom as being a delightful person. I was so glad that I was able to hang out with her for a while at our 50th Class Reunion in 2014. For me, this makes her passing all the more poignant since I expected to see her again at another reunion. I am sure her friends and family continue to hold fond memories of her. I am sure she made many good causes during her lifetime to love and support others.
Bob Taliaferro, Class of '64
Sally Stone (Forester)
I'm so sorry to learn of this. My heart goes out to her husband, John and sister, Jitka. Hana and Jitka were close friends of mine in high school and I have such fond memories of them. Hana and I reconnected at the 50th reunion and got together a couple of times afterward. She was the same wonderful person I remembered: joyful, smart and working to make life better for everyone around her. The world is a lessor place without Hana.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/stamfordadvocate/name/hana-lane-obituary?id=32506560
Alaina Weisman (Zachary)
Ah, yes, she was lovely and I too remember the very smart twins with fondness.
Arthur M Dittert
Hana Umlauf Lane, 75, of Stamford, CT, passed away on January 21, 2022.
Hana was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on March 14, 1946. At the time, her father, Karl Umlauf, was a Czech diplomat posted in Sweden. Her mother, Tolja Umlauf, was originally from Estonia. Not long after Czechoslovakia was taken over by the communists in 1948, the Umlaufs emigrated to the U.S. from Sweden.
Hana spent most of her childhood in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, where she graduated from Shaker Heights High School. She attended Vassar College, where she majored in Russian Language and Literature, and graduated in 1968. After college she attended Yale University, where she received an M.A. in Russian and East European Studies in 1970.
After graduate school, Hana moved to New York City to pursue a long and successful career in publishing – first as Senior Editor of The World Almanac and then as Acquisitions Editor at John Wiley & Sons.
When she retired from publishing in 2012, Hana became deeply involved with Building One Community, a nonprofit organization in Stamford, CT, which helps immigrants successfully integrate into U.S. society. As the child of immigrants herself, she often said this was her "true calling." She was learning Spanish and was being trained on immigration law when she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2018. Hana showed tremendous courage and determination after her stroke and was making a remarkable recovery at the time of her death.
Among her many other interests, Hana also loved sailing (she and John were/are active members of the Stamford Yacht Club), opera, shopping for antiques, travel (especially if it involved sailing), being fussed over on her birthday, and cooking exquisite meals for friends and family.
Hana is survived by John, her loving husband of 42 years, by her stepson, Mathew Lane, his wife Elizabeth and their sons Max and Frazer, and by her twin sister Jitka Umlauf Wiley, her brother-in-law John Wiley, their son Karl Wiley, his wife Sarah, and their 3 children, Owen, Emma, and Fiona.
Hana was dearly loved and her passing is a tremendous loss for all of her many, many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Hana's memory to Building One Community in Stamford, CT. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. (website: https:building1community.org/donate)
Betsy Dennis (Frank)
How very sad. I remember Hana and Jitka well.
Ruth Ann Shehan (Rinto Gilliss)
It is hard to imagine a world without Hana in it. We traveled in the same circle in high school, playing bridge and laughing over the silliest stuff. The story of how her family came to Ohio always fascinated me. She and her sister were so bright. I marveled how quickly they grasped concepts. (Perhaps envied). Her life was well lived. David's and my deepest sympathy to her family and to Jitka who has lost her other half.
Dana Shepard (Treister)
Special thanks to Arthur for posting Hana's impressive and touching obit. I, too, remember Hana and Jitka well from high school. Hana's was clearly a life well lived, and one that made our world a better place. Sad, however, to know her final years were complicated by a stroke. She will indeed live on in the memories of so many
DANA
Amy Kopperman (Wertheim)
I remember being friends with Hana and Jitka in elementary school and they were very nice and a lot of fun. I am so sorry to hear about Hana's medical problems, but it is clear that she was surrounded by love.
Jo Anne Perlmuter (Crair)
Truly sorry to learn of passing of Hana. From Lomond elementary through high school, I had great admiration for Hana and Jitka--- very special women. And although I never knew the family, I send my sincerest condolences to all.
Judi Bachman (Holtze)
I also remenber them all the way back to first grade. They were intersting and fun. My condolences to her family.