Our Dad, Dick Lyon, passed away suddenly on December 7th after taking a bad fall. He had just turned 100 years old.

He was born In Oakland, CA on November 8, 1916. He was raised in Piedmont, CA and attended Piedmont High. He received a basketball scholarship to Stanford where he played with Hank Luisetti, the father of modern basketball. He graduated with a degree in Engineering. In 1936, his grandmother left him and his brother Ted $800 to be used exclusively for traveling about the world. They traveled for eight months, including 3000 miles on bikes throughout Europe in the famous Olympic year of Jessie Owens. He returned to UC Berkeley where he completed 1 year of premed after which he returned to Stanford's medical school. He did his internship at Boston City Hospital and then enlisted in the Marines. He served as Battalion Surgeon, 24th Regiment, 4th Marine Division, helping save the lives of those on the battlefield of Iwo Jima. When he returned home, he married the love of his life, Carol, with whom he had three daughters. After completing his medical specialty training in Boston and San Francisco, he established his urology practice in Oakland in 1951 before moving his practice to Berkeley where he spent the next 35 years as a pioneer innovator in Pediatric Urology.

After retiring at the age of 67, Dad discovered he had many other interests and talents. With a curious mind and eye for beauty, he began to photograph his backyard, the Napa Valley. He published two books on wine making using his photographs along with words to help the novice better understand how wine is made. Next he photographed and published a book on the 1000 Napa County Wildflowers which satisfied a lifetime desire to proclaim their beauty.

At the age of 93, he published his memoir, A Process Mind. In it, he chronicles his many life experiences and tells how his passion for life, unquenchable and indestructible, allowed him to accomplish so much.

The computer was a natural for Dad's roving mind which led him quite naturally back to medicine where he mentored countless doctors across America and around the world. Even at 100 years of age, he was engaged with practitioners everywhere, sharing his knowledge and expertise, helping them define problems and finding answers to help cure those in need.

Dad is predeceased by his parents, Eleanor and Harvey Lyon, his brothers Bruce and Ted and his wife, Carol. He is survived by his daughters, Kathleen, Joan and Laura of Napa.

Our Dad was a true renaissance man. He was a person who loved life, making sure to always be "effective". As a world renowned pediatric urologist, he made immense contributions to the medical profession and will be remembered by many for his commitment and dedication to mankind. We will miss you, Dad.

At this time, there are no plans for a memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in his memory, to the Napa Valley Food Bank, 1766 Industrial Way, Napa CA 94558

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Dec. 17 to Dec. 26, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Richards Lyon

11 Entries

Vicki Hudson

December 11, 2022

I would love to share with the family what there dad did for me. He save my life. He did surgery on me when I was 14 years old back at a children hospital in Berkeley CA. It was 1969. I would have died in my early 20's most likely. I was able to connect with Dr Lion in 2016 not long before he passed. And I bought his book and he signed it for me.
What a brilliant man. So thankful I was able to e mail with him. He was truly a wonderful person.

Vicki Hudson

December 11, 2019

I truly feel Dr. Lyon saved my life. He did surgery on me when I was 14 years old way back in 1967. My mom and dad took me to quite a few Urology doctors. But when my parents took me to see Dr Lyon he didn't just tell them what needed to be done but explained what had happened to get me to the place where I was before surgery. I would have most likely died in my early 20's and never been able to have children. I am 64 years old now.
Over the years I wanted to contact him. And in thinking he had most likely had passed I just wanted to thank his family and children for sharing this wonderful person with us. I felt the urgency of really trying to contact the family and in doing so I was able to find out he was still alive at that time. (Through a Dr Parry). We started e mailing on 6/8/2016 and I was able to send him my records from my surgery. And I found his book on Amazon and sent it to him to sign.
What an awesome person. These wonderful men only come through our lives maybe just once. And I am here today because of the blessing of this man. As long as I live and even my children are alive Dr. Lyon will always be alive in our hearts.

Jack Selway

August 24, 2019

I met Dick through a history project of mine and added his book to a website. I visited twice and we corresponded often over the next few years. This is the website that featured our visits and his history, which I created, including the entire story of the bicycle trip of he and his brochure https://www.rghfhome.org/first100/historians/lyon/2011sweeney.htm (the link is safe and working as of today.)

A delight to visit their home, twice.

Jack Selway

August 24, 2019

My wife, Sherry, and I (red shirt) presenting Dick with a Rotary award in 2011.

Jack Selway

August 24, 2019

Tricia French

November 20, 2017

I was your patient for many years and you saved my life several times and I am profoundly grateful. I was the only adult patient you kept. You were and still are my HERO. I know there will never be anyone in my life that truly was dedicated to his patients and love you gave to me. Praying always for you and family! Blessed to have been your patient. Love Tricia French

Richards Lyon

May 8, 2017

I am truly sorry for your loss. Dr. Lyon did surgery on me back in 1967. I was 14 at the time and I believe he saved my life. I am now 61 years old and have two grown children and grandchildren.
I had tried to reach out to your
dad several times over the years and finally found him back around November and was able to send him a Birthday Card and a little figurine of a little boy. He was a GREAT man, and a wonderful Doctor, and I know your will miss him terribly.
Vicki Hudson
Roanoke VA

Great doctor and humanitarian

Marko Bodor

January 17, 2017

Dr. Lyon was a great mentor to me and encouraged me to think outside the box. I honored him, my father and Frank Krusen, founder of the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation, with a slide bearing their photos during a lecture I gave in New Orleans. I saw him at Mustard's Grill in Yountville several days after the election, which happened on his 100th birthday. Being and innovator and outside the box thinker, he was very excited about the potential for change with the president elect. I will miss him.

Karen Brown

December 26, 2016

I met Dr. Lyon as a twelve year old girl. My mom worked as a receptionist (and so much more) in his medical practice and I came into do filing and other work after school. I loved Dr. Lyon! He was friendly, welcoming and encouraging. He was interested in everybody. He later hired me to help with a research project which required that I gather data for him. I love that he trusted me with this task. I have followed him from afar these many decades. My condolences to all his family and close ones. A great force has left our world.

Joel Piser

December 19, 2016

What a great mentor and founder of our Berkeley Urological practice in the 1950's.
I first met Dick when I first joined Sumner Marshall in the practice in 1987. Dick immediately gave me the list of papers he had published and taught me things not previously covered in my 6 years of training. I maintained contact these last 30 years and in fact last communicated by Email in November. We shared memories and lessons learned in life.
I will truly miss his presence.
How best to contact the rest of the Family?
Joel A. Piser

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