David D.Y. Lan

David D.Y. Lan

June 19, 1945 – October 21, 2026

David D.Y. Lan, known to family and friends as Dave, of Ravenna, Ohio, died on October 21, 2026, at the age of 81.

Born in Taiwan, Dave followed in his father's footsteps to become a physician. Dave and Lily shared nearly 60 years together, beginning in Taiwan, where they married in 1972. They moved to the United States a few years later, eventually settling in Ravenna in 1979. For nearly five decades, Ravenna was home. Dave loved his adopted country, appreciated the opportunities it afforded him, and took a keen interest in its politics, economy, and culture.

A radiologist by profession, Dave practiced medicine for decades throughout Northeast Ohio. He was intellectually curious, quick to understand new ideas, and rarely short of an opinion, particularly when it came to politics, the stock market, or his real estate investments. Among those investments was Plaza East, a commercial building in Ravenna that provided him with a seemingly endless supply of projects to manage.

Dave was happiest when he had something to do. He could often be found puttering around the yard in his trademark tank top undershirt, tackling ambitious landscaping plans, or tinkering with something around the house. He took particular care of Lily's beloved jasmine and gardenia plants, often becoming so absorbed in his work that she had to call for him repeatedly to come inside for dinner. An enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer and longtime fan of This Old House, he preferred to tackle projects himself, even when his ambitions occasionally outpaced their completion. After a long stretch of yard work, he could reliably be found cooling off at the dining room table with the fan turned up full blast.

He also loved good food, meals out, and conversation. A trip to the bank or post office was as much an opportunity to chat as it was an errand. He laughed easily, enjoyed a good story, and spent much of the last two decades ballroom dancing with Lily. He also shared a lifelong love of action movies with his daughter, especially Die Hard and its sequels, which they happily watched together until Lily told them to get up and do something else.

Dave was generous with his family and with others, from those who worked alongside him to the servers who could always count on a generous cash tip. He expressed his love in practical ways, providing for his family and making sure they were cared for.

He is survived by Lily, his wife of 54 years; his daughter, Jessica Lan; and his son-in-law, Chris Klare.

Those who knew Dave will remember his curiosity, his humor, his many projects, and his distinctive way of expressing himself, sometimes with words, sometimes with sound effects. And, as he was so fond of saying, "Go easy."

In lieu of flowers, the family ask for donations to be made to the World Wildlife Fund https://www.worldwildlife.org/

Condolences and memories of Dave may be shared with his family at www.sscfuneralhomes.com.