Thomas E. Lane
With a degree in Econ, Lane launched his banking career in the U.S. Virgin Islands with Chase Manhattan. Two years later Chase dispatched Lane to New York City.
Completing Chase’s NYC Credit program, Mr. Lane was assigned to Chase’s London office. Following London, Chase Manhattan posted Lane to Milan, Italy; Alpine skiing and Italian wine were unanticipated benefits. In his 30’s, Lane returned to the Midwest, joining Old Kent Bank in Michigan. His 1984 editorial featured in the Wall Street Journal argued that record-high interest rates, Jimmy Carter’s economic legacy, had prodded US lenders to become more efficient. National Public Radio requested Mr. Lane defend this premise; featuring him as commentator.
As the millennium approached Tom was recruited back to banking with a promise, “No two-hour meetings, flexible work location.”
Lane has sailed the Caribbean every other year since 1980. He spends April in Italy. Summers are reserved for Michigan. The lakes and dunes surrounding Traverse City draw him back to his roots.
Choices that lure us Down The Block, Around The Corner
The clubhouse at Lahinch, Ireland offers a nice glass of Smithwick’s; the country pub ten minutes north provides a pint of Beamish, a dart board and Irish folk advising on the best of local food.
After SCUBA in the Caribbean, the service at a Ritz Carleton is snappy; down the beach at the thatched roof shack, waves breaking off-shore deliver a salt mist, conch spiced with fresh squeezed lime is served with a Calypso grin.
Skiing down the last run in springtime in the Rockies, tunes from the house band float from the deck of the base bar; two miles west the local watering hole features Fat Tire on tap, home-made beef jerky and Willie Nelson on the juke box.
Sailing into Bequia, the harbor side Frangipani Hotel hosts wandering yachties at 6 pm, their superb open air restaurant accepts reservations; a short stroll along the quay Grenadine fishermen hawk fresh snapper that will be fire-grilled at hole-in-the-wall eateries hidden in the hills surrounding Admiralty Bay.
Following the evening performance in London’s SOHO district, an Irish Coffee at the Dorchester never disappoints; just past Hyde Park Corner locals in Belgravia, elbow-to-elbow at The Grenadier’s ancient bar, shout for another Guinness.