Edward Lyons, 86, formerly of Riverside, died on Sept. 4, 2025 at his home in Chicago. Born on Nov. 20, 1938 in Queens, New York City, he grew up in a close and loving family. His grandparents lived downstairs, and his aunts, uncles and cousins all lived within walking, school and playing distance.
His family moved to New Jersey when Ed was a teenager and he graduated from high school in New Brunswick. He followed his older brother into the military, in Ed’s case, the Navy. He was only 17, so his mother had to sign off on his enlistment; he wound up on a “kiddy cruise.” He spent the four years in Hawaii.
After leaving the service, he graduated from Rutgers University and then Virginia Tech, where he earned a PhD in natural resource management/operations research. An engineer at heart, he never stopped wanting to learn, and he returned to college after he retired, earning an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.
A man of many talents and interests. He found joy in learning, sharing what he learned, asking questions, and challenging himself and others, both intellectually and athletically.
He was a strategic thinker, a problem solver, a professional and personal risk taker, and a leader. His career spanned the forest industry and manufacturing. He believed in data-based decision making and taking risks, and he believed in people. He always said he was most proud of mentoring and developing staff, and putting in place systems that promoted the well-being of those individuals.
An excellent tennis player, he frequently beat those who were younger, but nothing pleased him more than when his sons beat him. He was a rower (and built his own boat), kayaker, hiker, biker, golfer, and rollerblader/iceskater (to keep up with his sons).
He painted and drew, and tried his hand at woodcarving. He could repair almost anything and loved improvising to make things work, especially if it didn’t cost him anything.
He traveled widely, and was always up for a new adventure. He loved an unplanned day of wandering, especially if there was a new beer discovered at the end of the trail.
He rarely gave up on a book, especially if recommended by a friend. He took classes in physics, fungi, the environment, politics and astronomy. During the COVID break he wrote a 100+ page treatise titled, “The Dynamic Universe.” He researched and wrote it for younger people (really the grandchildren) and to increase his own knowledge. Just as what is known about the universe is always expanding, so did his treatise.
Frequently, he would quote John Greenleaf Whittier’s 1856 poem, Maude Miller — “For of all the sad things of tongue or pen / The saddest are these: ‘It might have been.’” He strived to live his life without regrets.
His was a life well lived.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Sussman; his sons, Daniel and Michael (Kelly), two grandchildren (Mackenzie and Connor Lyons); his brother, William (Joan), and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Naomi and Thomas Lyons, and his older brother, Thomas Lyons.
Private memorials will be held in Chicago and New Jersey.
Arrangements were handled by Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home in Riverside.