Stephanie Mischak Lyons

Stephanie Mischak Lyons
03/15/2025
Stephanie Angela (Mischak) Lyons came into the world at Oakland Naval hospital, the daughter of Therese (Rizzo) and Stephen Mischak, a career Navy First Mate. She went to Holy Angels elementary school in Daly City where she was pleased to win holy cards for first place in spelling bees.
She graduated from Mercy High School and had a love for music.She attended University of San Francisco, where her prized editing skills were employed on various literary magazines. She made lifelong friends.
She protested against the Vietnam war and worked with Swords to Plowshares to solve issues with the VA. She graduated from SF State with a masters degree in political science. Stephanie worked for many city departments during a 30-year career in civil service including the Mayor's Office as an aide to Supervisor Bill Maher, Public Health, Human Resources, Public Works, General Services Administration and the Department of Elections. In her spare time she worked security for Rock shows as a Bluecoat for Bill Graham Presents and volunteered for Rock Medicine.
She had a lifelong love of baseball and softball and played on various teams throughout the years from bar leagues to the Public Health softball team.
She was an entrepreneur and opened a bookstore on Sacramento St. There the display window of Grateful Dead books and posters attracted her future husband Michael Lyons at the prospect of meeting a literate Deadhead. They married and quickly had a son William, who became the joy of their life.The multitasking superwoman selflessly enjoyed being a mom, working for the city, singing in her church choir at St. John of God, and taking care of her aging parents. In retirement she headed the City College of San Francisco Concert and Lecture series which connected students to live performers and experts in various fields. She was the president of the Retired City Employees of San Francisco. She took up painting and became an artist of landscape paintings and enjoyed plein air communities along the Coastside.
She died March 15, 2025, after a long decline from Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. She is survived by husband Michael Lyons and son William. She lit up a room with her energy and kindness. Her services will be conducted at St. John of God at 11:00am on Saturday, April 12.