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James Weeks Lyons
Palo Alto - James Weeks Lyons, a current resident of Palo Alto, California, died on February 9, 2019. He was 86.
He attended Allegheny College where he received his Baccalaureate degree. He pursued his graduate studies at Indiana University where he earned his Master's and Doctorate degrees in the School of Education. While there he served as Assistant Director of the Indiana Memorial Union.
In 1962, at the age of 30, he was appointed Dean of Students at Haverford College in Pennsylvania and served in that post for ten years. In 1972 he was appointed University Dean of Student Affairs at Stanford University and served in that position for eighteen years, the longest to serve in that position to date. Halfway through his tenure as Dean he was appointed Lecturer in Stanford's Graduate School of Education. He continued his research, writing, and teaching for seven years after becoming Dean Emeritus in 1990.
Mr. Lyons was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Martha Wichser Lyons. He is survived by his son Mark Lyons, his wife, Valerie, and grandson Adam of Portland, Oregon. Also, by his daughter, Amie Lyons Clarke, granddaughter Alyssa Clarke and grandson Nicholas Clarke of Raleigh, North Carolina, and his deeply loved partner of 16 years, Mary Ann Green Olson, also a native of Jamestown New York.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jamestown High School Class of 1950 Scholarship Fund, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring Street, Jamestown, NY 14701.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Jim's impact on my life, personal and professional, is difficult to capture. I'm sure many people, particularly his students, will understand when I say that knowing him and having his mentorship at Stanford transformed me. His words and values remain with me and emerge so frequently in all that I do. I'm sorry that I've never had the chance to meet Mary Ann, about whom Jim always spoke in our correspondences in recent years. Sincere condolences to her, the rest of Jim's family, and the friends who must live with his absence, but who will undoubtedly continue to feel his warmth and goodness in fond memories.
Kristin Kusmierek
May 15, 2019
I did not come from Jamestown and had the good fortune of meeting Christ at the U of Illinois. As the wife of Christ P Sarro we went to so many Jamestown HS reunions through the years that I almost felt I had graduated with the Class of 1950 and think some of you might have thought so also. I often thought how lucky you all were to have the Jamestown experience. The HS scholarship fund is a wonderful legacy to the hearts and souls of the Class of "50 blessed with the Jamestown experience. Our last reunion was the 65th in 2015 before Christ passed away in 2017. I have written a book entitled "Sisters from Different Misters" to be published later this year recounting a life well lived. I am firmly convinced that Christ, Jim, Mary Ann and many others experienced a life well lived from their association with one another in that All American City called Jamestown. To Jim and Christ and the others before them, may they take the spirit of Jamestown HS Class of 1950 to that place where their spirit continue to reside.
Iris J Sarro
Acquaintance
February 18, 2019
Am so happy that I got to have a conversation with Jim at our last reunion. Sometimes it is difficult to get to talk to everyone with limited time during all the coverage of the evening. Rest in Peace Jim. You were BLESSED with a wonderful and active life. Will be missing you when we receive class letters.
Peggy Eades
February 18, 2019
My deepest condolences to my undergraduate classmate Amie Lyons Clarke on the passing of her father Jim Lyons, my valued mentor during my graduate work at Stanford's School of Education. Jim was truly one of a kind and his memory will live on forever in those of us whose lives were touched by his wisdom and kindness.
Jim Dugoni
Student
February 13, 2019
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