Joseph Lawrence (Larry) Shane

Larry Shane passed away peacefully at White Horse Village, Newtown Square, on January 29, 2025, surrounded by his family, having just celebrated his ninetieth birthday.  Born on January 27, 1935, he lived life to its fullest in terms of accomplishments, relationships, and the profound impact he had on so many, but overriding it all was his love and devotion to his extensive family.  He was beloved by his wife Marty (of 67 years), his daughters Susan Geoghegan (Dave), Carol O'Dea (Joe), Mandy Dicker (Jim) and Sara Lynn Jones (Tom), his twelve grandchildren and one great-grand!

Larry was born to Terry and Joe Shane and, along with his older sibling, Bucky, lived his early years at both the George and Oakwood (Quaker) Schools where his father was a teacher.  After graduating from The George School, Larry attended Swarthmore College, where he majored in mechanical engineering.  There, he said, "I probably majored too much in athletics, since I played varsity soccer, basketball and tennis…but in the end they actually awarded me a degree!"  Humble to a fault, he left out that he was an All-American soccer player and Co-Captain of the college team.  It was at Swarthmore that Larry met Marty, the love of his life, and they married the year after her graduation.  They continued to reside in Swarthmore where they raised their daughters.

Following college, Larry was employed by the Scott Paper Company where he quickly realized that engineering was not the area he wanted to pursue.  He began taking night classes at Wharton, earning an MBA in Finance.  It is safe to say that he flourished professionally from that point on, rising through the ranks of Scott Paper till he reached the apex of his career as Vice-Chairman and Director of this international company.  Over the years, professional colleagues lauded Larry's common sense, integrity, and his straightforward and diplomatic approach while working with people at every level - as the keys to his success.

Following his retirement from Scott Paper, Larry served on the Boards of CoreStates Bank, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Crozer Keystone Hospital System and the 1838 Debenture Bond Fund.  This service "gave me the excuse to put on a necktie and continue to be associated with interesting people and challenges."  He served on the Swarthmore College Board of Managers for almost 40 years as a member, treasurer, vice chairman and Chairman from 1997-2003 – a demanding and challenging role that became a second full-time job.  He was proud to help sponsor both a student lounge at the college as well as "The Terry Shane Teaching Garden" in honor of his mother, an avid gardener and one of the originators of the Scott Arboretum.

To balance his professional workload, Larry remained active in his community, supporting and participating in Swarthmore Presbyterian Church. He sang in the church choir and served the church in various capacities, including head of the fundraising committee for the renovation of the new chancel.

Despite a challenging career, Larry put his heart into being an involved father, always available to help with homework, teaching his daughters to ski (with good results) and to throw (not so good results). His ability to teach was extraordinary; when certain academic concepts proved difficult for his kids, they would "head to Dad".  Larry would approach it differently, and suddenly it became simple and clear.  He passed along his prioritization of family.  He and Marty established a tradition of taking each daughter on a "ten-year-old trip", where each could have a special "only child" experience with her parents.  These trips created lasting memories, and the tradition has been continued by Larry's daughters with their own children.  He went to tailgates at each of his daughter's colleges (always mixing his renowned and exceedingly popular whiskey sours), helped them launch their own careers, and was an advisor and supporter to each of them whenever life challenges arose.  Even as the girls married and began raising their own families, Larry and Marty had the whole "gang" over once to twice a month, where fun, laughter and love abounded.

Larry and Marty traveled extensively and visited all seven continents during their lifetimes.  Zermatt, Switzerland was a favorite destination, and he retuned again and again to enjoy and share the beauty with friends and family.  In college, Larry climbed the Matterhorn, though he humbly stated that it was his guide who should get the credit for his getting to the top! Larry played golf, tennis, squash, and loved downhill skiing. He and Marty purchased a condominium in Stowe, Vermont as a place for hiking, skiing and being together.

At the age of seventy-five, Larry and Marty moved to White Horse Village. Larry headed up the Finance Committee, while they both sang in the choir and enjoyed living closely with so many old and new friends.

Larry will be remembered for so many things.  A good friend said, "He made an indelible impact on everyone he met."  He will be and already is sorely missed.  He was a role model to many and had the character and a moral compass that allowed him to share wisdom generously.  To his family he was our leader and he is in our hearts, forever.

A celebration of Larry's Life is scheduled for 3:00 pm Saturday, March 1st at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Ave. Swarthmore, PA, followed by light refreshments at Fellowship Hall.

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Arrangements provided by Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home
www.haganfuneralhome.com