Eugene K. Lyons, 70
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Eugene K. Lyons, 70, of State Road died Thursday, June 18, 2015, at home.Born in Burlington, Vt., on Feb. 28, 1945, a son of Kenneth and Gertrude Beliveau Lyons, his family moved to Williamstown in 1954. He graduated from the former St. Joseph's High School in North Adams with the class of 1963 and later received an associate degree from the University of California.
An Air Force veteran, he joined in 1964 and was stationed at Beale AFB, Calif., under Strategic Air Command's 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing, operating the Titan I rocket program. After the Titan's demilitarization, he was assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, where he worked as a photographic sensitometrist on the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. He alsoo supported the U-2 intelligence gathering project Trojan Horse while deployed during Vietnam. He received the Purple Heart medal prior to his honorable separation from the Air Force as a sergeant in 1968.
Mr. Lyons was employed as the audio visual director at McCann Technical School for 18 years, until his retirement in 2011. He earlier had been employed as the general manager for Treet Cleaners for 12 years and went back to his passion for film and video when he started Video Memories a wedding and special event video business.
His friends and family called him "Skip" or "Gene." He was an avid boater and fisherman, something he loved sharing with his wife of 42 years, the former Debra Luczynski.
Besides his wife, he leaves his daughter, Kelly Kane and her husband, Nicholas, of Maynard; two sons, Scott Lyons and his wife, Suzette, of Bennington, Vt., and Robert Lyons and his wife, Alison, of North Adams; a brother, Roger Lyons of Texas, and four grandchildren, Alyssa Kane, Emily Lyons, Samantha Kane, and Mason Lyons.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Mr. Lyons will take place Saturday, June 20, at noon from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams.
Calling hours will be Saturday morning from 10 to noon at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested for the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice.