John Joseph Lane

1930 - 2020  (89 years)

• Name	John Joseph Lane  [1]
  Birth	22 Sep 1930	Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
  Gender	Male
  Death	22 Apr 2020	Rye, Westchester, New York, United States   [1]
  Person ID	I10000	Branches and Roots
  Last Modified	13 Feb 2026

  
  

  Father	Clement Francis Lane,   b. 7 Jul 1897, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA d. 27 Oct 1958, Evanston, Cook, Illinois, USA (Age 61 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Angela Ann Lavery,   b. 25 Dec 1896, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA d. 30 Nov 1981, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA (Age 84 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	28 Apr 1923	Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
  	St. Angela St. Angela
  Family ID	F3844	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Children	+ 1. Clement F. Lane, II,   b. 2 Aug 1960, Evanston, Cook, Illinois, USA d. 13 May 2011, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA (Age 50 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] + 2. Living + 3. Living + 4. Living
  Family ID	F3611	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Feb 2026

  
  

• Notes

  John went to St. Margaret Mary grammar school, Loyola Academy and graduated from Loyola University with a major in History. He served in the army for two years and was stationed in South Korea. After his discharge, he worked for City News Bureau and CBS News in Chicago. John married Bess June in 1958 and the next year went to work as a reporter for the Chicago Daily News. He rejoined CBS News in 1964 as a writer and producer. In 1967, he became the Midwest bureau chief and for a short period of time, the London bureau chief for CBS News. In 1971, he was named senior producer of the CBS Evening News and the family moved to Rye, New York. In 1979, John became deputy director of news and later director of News for CBS News. he joined NBC News in 1984 and held several executive positions there. In 1990, he joined CNN and worked as a writer and producer for a series of magazine shows. He retired in 1998. His biggest challenge in retirement has been to learn how to make his own breakfast and lunch. (July 2000)

  
  

• Sources

  [S249] Staff, Journal News, The, (Name: Journal News, The; Location: New York;), Obituary: Lane, John Joseph. John Joseph Lane, beloved husband of Elizabeth June, proud father of Clem, Virginia, Diana and Mary Kate, even prouder grandfather of Harrison, Currie, Gwen, Jack, Finn, Teag, Kinzie, Billy, Maggie and Mary Ita, died on April 22, 2020, after a long illness. Jesuit educated at Loyola Academy and Loyola University-Chicago, from which he was also conferred an honorary degree by the School of Journalism in recognition of his principled service to the field, Lane served in the Army infantry during the Korean War before embarking upon a 45-year career in print and then broadcast journalism. He began at Chicago's City News Bureau, moved to the Chicago Daily News where his father had retired as City Editor, then moved to CBS News where he eventually became senior producer of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite for seven years. Lane joined CNN in 1990 as a senior producer on a news magazine show and a few years later became vice-president and senior editorial producer for the show. He retired from CNN in 1998. A daily communicant, Lane was actively engaged in and a generous contributor to the social ministry of the Catholic Church. He and his family for decades helped prepare Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the guests of P.O.T.S., a soup kitchen and shelter for the homeless and hungry in the Bronx, which he also served as a board member. He was distinguished by the delight he took in making and sustaining friendships over many, many years, no matter the distance or circumstance. His kindness and selflessness made a lasting mark on all who had the privilege to meet him. For those who wish, please send donations in his memory to P.O.T.S., 2759 Webster Avenue, Bronx, New York 10458, www.potsbronx.org Journal News, The: 22Apr2020 HFA: 27APR2020