Roger Charles Lyon Jr.

Roger Charles Lyon Jr. was born in 1949 in Burbank, Calif., and spent his childhood in Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood Hills. He lost his life Friday, Oct. 15, 2010. He excelled in age group swimming and continued his competitive swimming at Harvard School, where he set many records. He represented the United States in 1967 in the Pan American Games. He attended the University of Southern California on a full athletic scholarship and was a four-year All-American. After graduation, he spent a year traveling in Europe, then went on to earn his law degree from the University of California Hastings Law School. His summers were spent as a Los Angeles County Lifeguard. Chopper, also known as Chop, moved to Cayucos with his wife, Susan, in 1977. He first worked at the San Luis Obispo County Counsel office. He then went into private practice with his first office in San Luis Obispo, and later in Cayucos. His specialty was land use and municipal law. His passion was conservation of open space for future generations, especially for his beloved grandson. He loved the land in and around his community and was instrumental in conserving much of the coast forever. Roger founded the Cayucos Land Conservancy that successfully preserved four miles of Cayucos coastline and started the process of establishing a greenbelt around Cayucos. His crowning achievement was the conservation easement of the 82,000-acre Hearst Ranch. Chop was passionate about many things - family was on the top of his list. He was an avid pilot of his beloved plane, the Restless Bess. Surfing, biking, snowboarding and traveling were all activities that he loved. Chop lived on a beautiful ranch in Cayucos, where he raised cattle, avocados and oranges and lived life to the fullest. Chop is survived by his wife and life partner of 37 years, Susan; sons Kristopher (Rachel May) and Michael (Joyce); mother, Bess Lyon; sister, Debby Lyon (Jeff Herten); and grandson, Wyatt. He is also survived by a large, loving extended family and many loyal friends from all aspects of his life. He was preceded in death by his sister, Judy Lyon; father, Roger Lyon Sr., and grandparents, Isabel and Michael Harris. A celebration of Chopper''s life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2010, at the Hearst Ranch Dairy Barn. Contributions in his memory can be made to: Flying Samaritans, P.O. Box 6804, Chandler, AZ 85246; or Wild Cherry Canyon, c/o American Land Conservancy ''" WCC, 369 Pine Street, Ste. 700, San Francisco, CA 94104.