Jane Lawson, art patron, dies at 91

Jane Lawson, one of several female volunteers who worked to bring modern art to Newport Beach, died Dec. 29 of cancer at her Newport Beach home. She was 91.

In 1961, Lawson’s love of art led her and 12 other women to organize the Fine Arts Patrons.

Together, they opened an art gallery on the top floor of the Balboa Pavilion, which later became the Newport Harbor Art Museum and in 1996 the Orange County Museum of Art, by which time it had moved to its present location near Fashion Island.

“What they created was really the first organization in all of Southern California to champion modern and contemporary art,” said Orange County Museum of Art Director Dennis Szakacs, who described Lawson as charming and energetic.

“They worked to build a collection of work by local artists that has now become one of the finest collections of its kind,” he said.

Her work at the museum prompted a Cultural Legacy Award from Arts Orange County in 2000.

In addition to art, Lawson enjoyed sailing and racing boats.

She also gave much of her time to several charitable organizations.

She was active with the Orange County Philharmonic Society for more than 20 years, serving as a board member and officer.

After getting involved with Children’s Home Society of California in 1953, Lawson was later elected to several positions there, serving as chair of the board of directors from 1982 to 1984.

“She was a very hardworking, selfless and committed volunteer who always had the best interest of children at heart,” said Amelia Nuñez-Wells, chief executive of the children’s organization.

Born Dec. 5, 1915 in Los Angeles, Jane Lawson and her husband, Howard Lawson, later moved to a house on the Balboa Peninsula, where invitees gathered for the couple’s legendary annual Christmas parties.

She was known by friends and family as meticulous, elegant and a “real lady,” who always had the answer to any etiquette question.

“I remember watching her every move to figure out which fork I was supposed to use,” said Jane Lawson’s daughter-in-law, Diane Lawson.

“She had more class in her little finger than anybody I’ve ever known.”

Jane Lawson is survived by a son, Norman; two daughters, Sally Barnum and Liza Segretti; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Private services for Jane Lawson were held Friday.

Donations may be made in her name to the Orange County Philharmonic Society or the Orange County Museum of Art.