Austra Mclane

Austra McLane, 97, died peacefully Monday, August 14, at her home in Niskayuna.

She is survived by her son Kevin McLane, and nieces and nephews Beth Rooney, Bruce, Bernard, Michael,
Shelby, Osasha, and Ellsie Fertal. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Warren McLane.

Austra was born in Riga, Latvia and emigrated to the United States with her mother in 1949. Not long after, she became a US Citizen. She met Warren while participating in the Adirondack Mountain Club. Her enthusiasm for climbing spurred both her and Warren to complete all 46 of Adirondack’s highest peaks by 1964.

Austra always sought stimulus in her life. She obtained a Pschology deree from Russell Sage College in Troy. She and Warren went on adventurous international travels annually. They attended NYC Ballets and concerts at Saratoga Spring Performing Arts Center. Through the Schenectady Branch of AAUW, Austra read and discussed great literature monthly. She subscribed to Time Magazine, National Geographic, the Smithsonian, the Week, the Daily Gazette and the New York Times and continued to read them all even with failing eyesight. Woe to the delivery person if her daily newspaper was late! Austra was a fighter to the last, speaking up for herself and taking no nonsense from others. She was one of a kind, and she will be missed.

A graveside service will be held at 1 pm Monday, August 21, at Memory Gardens in Colonie, NY (Watervliet Shaker Road).

If you would like to send memories to the family, email them to her niece at brooney150@gmail.com.