Alan C. Lyman

1934 - 2021

Alan C. Lyman of Wellesley, Massachusetts, age 86, passed away on Sunday February 7, 2021. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 23, 1934, he lived in Agawam, Massachusetts for a short period of time before moving to Greenfield, Massachusetts. He played basketball and tennis in high school and went on to graduate in 1951. During high school, Alan took a part-time job working on the Boston and Maine Railroad where he worked in the Signal department and said he enjoyed riding the handcars. When asked by his grandsons about what his college application experience was like, Alan said it was easy because he only applied to one school, Yale University, who accepted him and where he graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1955. Alan decided to attend Hartford Theological Seminary and it was there that he met the love of his life, Elissa Fe Utzurrum. They were married on September 8, 1956 and welcomed their first child in 1957. Upon graduation, Alan accepted a position as minister at a church in Becket, Massachusetts. He stayed there for a year and then transferred to a church in Hampton, Connecticut before deciding to change careers. After a short stint of living in Cambridge and working as a computer programmer for Arthur D. Little, he moved his family to a friendly neighborhood in Wellesley, Massachusetts where he happily raised his family and began his 35-year career at Honeywell as a Director of Software Development. Unquestionably, Alan loved to garden. In his earlier days, he went about gardening with a vengeance. Each Spring, he would have a local farmer dump a truck load of effervescent cow manure on the front lawn. The dogs in the neighborhood loved him. He diligently spent the weekends turning over the soil and was so proud when his fruitful bounty produced enough green beans and zucchini for the family and all his neighbors. He continued this hobby throughout his entire life. In the 1960s and 1970s, Alan and Elissa took frequent vacations with the children traveling to the Philippines, Thailand and Hawaii to visit Elissas family and enjoy the beautiful countries. The time spent on these trips created lasting memories that will be cherished by his family forever. When Alan retired in 1988, he spent most of his days taking care of his grandsons. He cherished his time with them and when they were young, he loved reading books, bringing them on day trips, playing games and cooking dinners. As the boys grew, he became a strong role model and was committed to teaching the social graces and the importance of compassion for others. He volunteered and supported numerous causes for the under privileged and encouraged his grandsons to do the same. He is survived by his wife, Elissa Utzurrum Lyman of Wellesley to whom he was married for 64 years, his son Alan C. Lyman, Jr. and his partner, Cynthia Allen of Wellesley, daughter Michele Lyman of Natick, grandsons Drew Lyman Morrison, Ben Lyman Morrison and Jack Lyman Morrison of Natick, and brother Kenneth H. Lyman and wife Shirley of Leyden. Alans family will gather privately to celebrate his life. Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Alans online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.