MEMORIAL MASS & RINK REDEDICATION

Honoring the Legacy of Henry T. Lane

On Saturday, September 17, 2022, the Lane Family and St. Sebastian’s alumni, parents and friends of Arrows Hockey gathered to celebrate the life of Henry T. Lane ’49, P’77—longtime teacher, hockey coach and Athletic Director of St. Sebastian’s—and to rededicate the Henry T. Lane Rink, following the near completion of the Henry T. Lane Rink Improvement Project.

The day began with a Memorial Mass for Henry under the tents on the West Campus fields. Nearly every decade of St. Sebastian’s 80-year history was represented, with Arrows in attendance spanning from the 1950’s to current students. The Mass was led by Fr. John Arens, with Henry’s daughter, Jennifer, serving as a reader. Following a moving video highlighting Henry’s tenure at St. Sebastian’s, guests were treated to tributes from his friends and family.

Jack Sullivan ’66, P’00 recalled touching, and at times comical, memories of Henry, his former hockey coach, friend, and best man in his wedding. He noted how Henry was a great competitor, whether coaching hockey or playing tennis with his daughter, but always with a positive attitude. “He had an unbelievable memory,” shared Jack. “He’d say, you know what, Sull, back in 1966, if you didn’t miss that shot, we could have won that game... He could tell you who played, who did what, for years back. It was unbelievable because he worked that into his storytelling, and always with that sense of humor.”

Headmaster Burke then gave a heartfelt speech honoring Henry and thanked the many members of the community who supported the Henry T. Lane Rink Improvement Project, greatly enhancing the facility for our student-athletes, improving skater safety, and elevating the experience for fans and spectators. He individually acknowledged each member of the project committee, several of them in attendance, noting their connection to Arrows Hockey and accomplishments on the ice.

Henry’s son, Mark ’77, shared the many wonderful memories he had with his father while growing up and attending St. Sebastian’s. Illustrating how much progress has been made since the early days at St. Sebastian’s, he drew comparisons with the outdoor rink on Nonantum Hill, where players and fans alike had to brave the elements on a cold, windy day. Mark recalled the backbreaking work had to be done by players and other students to maintain the rink, from weeding to shoveling ice and snow. “It was a real collaborative effort that worked for over 30 years. But my father recognized as anyone would, that it was not a sustainable situation for the long-term. So when the school announced the move to Needham, he was thrilled... We now have a great rink with a great name, and he would be very happy today.”

Following the Mass and tributes to Henry, guests then made their way down to the hockey rink for the rededication of the Henry T. Lane Rink, originally dedicated on January 11, 1997. Mark and Jennifer Lane unveiled the new Henry Lane tribute plaques and Fr. John Arens blessed the rink. Attendees then had a chance to view the improvements, with alumni stopping to peruse and find themselves on the Arrows Team wall, displaying photos of each of the 79 varsity teams since the hockey program’s inception in 1943. Other highlights included the new ice level warming room, featuring photographs and plaques celebrating the achievements of many teams and players, and the muraled walls flanking the entrance to the warming room, celebrating the rich heritage and history of Arrows Hockey. Families then laced up and took to the ice.

Through the support of over 230 donors to the Henry T. Lane Rink Improvement Project, St. Sebastian’s was able to revitalize the rink with the new ice level warming room and displays of the Arrows Hockey legacy, the installation of state-of-the-art boards and glass, new permanent viewing stands, a tribute wall to Henry, improvements to the west and east walls, and new scoreboards. These renovations breathe new life into a facility so central to the heart of our School, while also celebrating St. Sebastian’s rich hockey heritage and continuing to honor the legacy of a man who dedicated so much of his life to the institution he loved.