Jeptha Holland Lanning, a resident of St. Andrews Estates, Boca Raton, FL, died on Sunday, February 5, 2017.  Son of Jeptha Holland Lanning and Helen Agnes Flood Lanning, he was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 29, 1931.  He is survived by his wife, Joan, his brothers, Richard James (Eva) of Riverside, CT and Gerard James (Judith) of Manchester, CT and two nieces and a nephew.

Jep graduated from Marist Preparatory School in 1949 and joined the Marist Brothers. In 1953 he graduated from Marist College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.  He taught at Mount St. Michael's Academy in the Bronx until 1960 during which time he pursued and obtained a Masters Degree in English at St. John's University in Jamaica, New York.

From 1960 until 1964 he attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where he obtained his Doctorate in English Literature and joined the faculty of Marist College.  In 1972, he left the Marist Brothers and married Joan Cotter while remaining on the faculty of Marist College.

From 1972 until his retirement in 1993 he taught in and chaired the English Department at Marist College, directed the theatre program and produced and directed numerous plays. He initiated the Communication Arts Program which he chaired for many years as well as directing the Marist Student Abroad Program.  Jep served on numerous faculty committees and was chosen "Teacher of the Year" in 1972.  In 2003 he was named a heritage professor emeritus of Marist College.

Upon retirement, Jep and Joan moved to Delray Beach, FL where he devoted himself to many activities at St. Lucy Church in Highland Beach and at Coastal House, the condominium where they lived.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Lucy's Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, February 9 ^th with visitation in the Church from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, a mass of Christian burial at 10:30 am followed by entombment at Boca Raton Mausoleum.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Marist Brothers, P.O. Box 413, Worth, IL 60482-0413.