Jonathan Kane's Obituary
Jonathan (Jon) Kane, 70, died unexpectedly Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at his home in Bozman, Maryland, where he lived after retiring. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Susan Wagner Kane, his daughter Tyler Kane Kennedy of Malvern, PA and children Gordon Rose of Portland, OR, Charles Rose of Bozman, MD, Emily Rose of Cincinnati, OH and his brother, Andrew of Littleton, CO, one grandchild, and many, many friends and colleagues. Born in 1945 on Maxwell Army Air Corps base in Montgomery, Alabama, he was raised in suburban Philadelphia, the son of Carole Gottlob Kane and Alan Kane. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1967 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1973. Law School was interrupted by his enlistment in the US army, where he served with distinction, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant as a Special Forces operations officer while in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1971 for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces. Jon began his 40 year legal career in 1973 in Philadelphia at the firm Drinker Biddle & Reath, followed by his joining Pepper Hamilton where he was a partner from 1998 through 2013. He served as chairman of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group and was a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. In addition to his excellent legal skills, Jon mentored colleagues, published and lectured on workplace and employment issues and drug use and abuse in America and held leadership positions on American Bar Association committees. Jon was passionately devoted to several causes and his volunteerism was extensive. He served as chairman of the Eagleville Hospital, vice-chairman of the Mayor’s Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission (Philadelphia) and a member of the White House Blue Ribbon Drug and Alcohol Committee. On the community level, Jon served as the Chairman and as a member on the planning commissions of Eastown and Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, PA respectively. More recently Jon was committed to numerous fundraising efforts to support returning and disabled veterans and he represented veterans pro bono before the US Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims. Since retiring, Jon had become active with various community, church, and charitable causes in his newly adopted home of St. Michaels, Maryland, including the SMASH tutoring program where he was fondly known as “Mr. Jonâ€. A Memorial service is planned as a Celebration of Life on Sunday, January 10, 2016, at 2:00pm at Christ Church, St. Michaels, Maryland with a reception to follow. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Jonathan Kane Platoon Scholarship Fund, part of The Fighting Back Program (www.fightingbacksp.org). Arrangements are by the Ostrowski Funeral Home P.A. of St. Michaels
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