Lance Pierre Fontaine

Lance Pierre Fontaine, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away on November 8, 2021 at the age of 44. Born in Laredo, Texas, Lance attended St. Augustine High School and graduated in 1995. He earned a degree in Ecological Biology from Tulane University in 1999. He went on to earn a Master’s degree (in 2002) and eventually a Ph.D. (in 2008) in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University.  Lance worked as an Environmental Scientist at North Carolina Department of transportation from 2006 to 2011. Lance spent the last 10 years working as a Water Quality Analyst for the City of Durham.

Lance is survived by his loving wife Eve Rosenthal Fontaine (age 42), son Logan Fontaine (age 12), and daughter Camile Fontaine (age 10). Additional bereaved family members include but are not limited to; Peter Fontaine (father), Juanita Fontaine (mother), Gordon Fontaine (brother), Zach Rosenthal (brother-in-law), Kirsten Crapnell Rosenthal (sister-in-law), Ben Rosenthal (nephew), Anders Rosenthal (nephew) and Rachel Rosenthal (sister-in-law).

In addition to being a passionate conservationist and academic, Lance will be best known as a loving husband, father, brother, and friend. He delighted in taking trips down to the Eno River with his children, where he couldn’t resist identifying the plants and animals they saw along the way. Lance was a dreamer by nature and was never without a new idea about how to make the world better. He had a deep sense of wonder and found true joy in sharing his many passions with the people around him. He was known for his love of exotic cuts of meat, hot sauce, his pride in his Mexican heritage, and his unmistakable humor. But what his family and friends will remember most about him was his infectious smile (that was wider than the state of Texas), sincerity, loyalty, and his unique ability to make those around him feel seen. Lance’s quick wit and big heart were a rare gift to all who knew him. He is immeasurably missed.   

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Tuesday, November 16^th 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Few’s Ford Shelter Pavilion in the Eno River State Park. Donations can be made to the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Celebration of Life Services:

Few’s Ford Shelter Pavilion, 6101 Cole Mill Rd, Durham, NC 27705

https://goo.gl/maps/4zuQZyD6ks7vSLqN7

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Fontaine Family can be made to the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

Donations can be made to:

https://www.ellerbecreek.org/