The Jean and Bill Lane have been enormous benefactors to Portola Valley for decades.

Bill Lane camped in Portola Valley as a boy; Jean, however, came to California after college, met Bill, and first visited our town when she was looking for horse property . When the Realtor showed her the site where she still lives, she knew immediately that it was the right place.

Their Westridge property eventually extended to ten acres, over which they placed a conservation easement, to maintain open space into the future. This agreement means that the two lots they purchased in addition to their original site cannot have houses built on them.

Bill was a key figure in the incorporation of Portola Valley, and Jean was a founding member of the Westridge Garden Club which recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.

Bill loved colorful clothing and enjoyed being Santa during the holidays at the Ladera Country Shopper.  He was an active participant in local government and always wore a flag pin on his label.