FRANCIS JAMES LYONS

Francis “Frank” James Lyons, 80, of Little Compton, RI was born in Stamford, CT on March 6, 1942 to parents Francis Joseph Lyons and Marie Lynch Lyons. The third of four children, Frank spent a childhood in the sunshine of southern California before being lured east by a cute blonde, his eventual wife of 35 years, Barbara Von Urff. As a young man, he dabbled in careers as an apricot picker, Roman Catholic seminarian, philosophy professor at Loyola Marymount, and US Air Force pilot before the reality of three small children landed him in downtown New York City in the reinsurance business. When twin daughters later joined the family, the chokehold of his tie closed a little tighter, but true to his optimistic nature, Frank made the best of it, expensing as many meals and rounds of golf as possible, presiding over lively family dinners at a table he built himself, and cultivating many friends.

Frank graduated high school from Our Lady Queen of Angels in Los Angeles, college from St. John’s Seminary in LA, and did post-graduate work as a seminarian at the North American College in Rome. He earned his USAF pilot’s license in December 1969 and spent 5 years serving his country. In 1973 he moved his young family to CT and worked for a combined 30 years in reinsurance. Retirement came poorly timed with the passing of the love of his life, Barbara, and Frank moved to RI to build furniture masterpieces in his workshop. As luck would have it, lightning struck twice for Frank and he met and married his second love, Gigi Lodge. They spent 15 years together, enjoying retirement in Darien, Little Compton, and Florida with each other and their dog, Professor Wiggins. 

Frank’s life is best defined by friendship, humor, and the love of family. His warmth and sense of fun was infectious, his pours of wine generous, and his laughter and smiles easy to come. He is predeceased by his first wife, Barbara Lyons, and brother Edward Lyons. He is survived by his second wife, Gigi Lyons of Darien, CT, sisters Carol Williams and Angie Scholl of California, and his children, Jim (Diane) Lyons of Holden, MA, Stephen (Lindsay) Lyons of Tiverton, RI, Raven (Greg) Register of Needham, MA, Regan (Jeremy) Smyth of Rockville, MD, and Cassandra (Paul) Reilly of Wilton, CT, as well as his 14 grandchildren (Clancy, Brady, Beckett, Stephen, Finn, Bridget, Loki, Isa, Sam, Fiona, Caleb, Nathan, Maeve, and Teagan) to whom he has bequeathed a large smattering of freckles, an irreverent sense of humor, and a deep appreciation of family and life well-lived.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 25th, at one of Frank’s favorite places, his home in Little Compton, RI at 1pm (76 East Main Road), with a second service to follow in Darien, CT in the spring. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Frank’s honor to NatureServe:bit.ly/FLyons or https://www.natureserve.org?form=FJL

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