Longtime Enfield Teacher and Coach Jack Lyons Dies At 86

ENFIELD, CT — John "Jack" Lyons, who spent more than three decades teaching and coaching high school students in Enfield, particularly in his memorable driver education courses, died at his Somers home Saturday. He was 86.

A graduate of Chicopee High School, Lyons served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and earned a bachelor's degree from Springfield College, and a master's degree at Westfield State College. He began teaching social studies at Enfield High School in 1962, and by 1964, he was also working with Peter Staszko in the driver education curriculum, including classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel training in simulators and on-the-road guidance.

After more than a decade at Enfield, including several years as an assistant football coach in the early- to mid-1960s, Lyons taught across town at Enrico Fermi High School in the 1970s and 1980s before returning to Enfield. He spent a total of 34 years as an educator, retiring in 1994.

Among the descriptive visions he entrenched in his teenage driving students were:

• "Don't drive the way your friends do, with one arm holding up the roof, your other arm draped around your girlfriend who's sitting in your shirt pocket, and steering with your knee."
• "What do you do when four vehicles all arrive at a 4-way stop at the same time? Have a Coke and a smile, or creep and beep?"

Former business teacher, and later assistant principal, Ralph Cerrato worked with Lyons for many years, and coached football alongside him in the 1960s under legendary sportsman Carl Angelica.

"Before I became an administrator, I was a fellow teacher like Jack, a coach like Jack," Cerrato told Patch. "We saw a lot of each other. Always enjoyed his company. Never second guessing with Jack. Always liked that. Sorry to hear of his passing."

Dr. Frank Taylor, who taught social studies for more than a half-century, told Patch, "I worked with Jack for many years and even when we didn't see eye-to-eye, I always knew I could count on him. He was a dedicated teacher who left his mark on generations of students. As a driver's ed teacher, he directly contributed to making the community safer, with his focus on creating safe drivers. After he retired, Jack, Ann and I went on several trips together, and they were great traveling companions. I have great memories of him as a coworker, confederate and friend. He will be missed."

Longtime math teacher and multi-sport coach Bob Bromage said, "Jack was never afraid to tell it like it was, no matter what it was. If he believed in it, he believed in it 100 percent."

Lyons and Bromage each had second homes along the Maine coast, and the two became friends outside of the academic setting.

"I have many great memories of working with Jack up in Maine," Bromage recalled. "He had a million stories, and they're all true."

Retired businessman Sam Fiore played four years of football as a lineman under Lyons' tutelage.

"He was a wonderful guy and a great coach," Fiore told Patch. "The best thing was having him and Joe Lamana as coaches."

Frank Pillitteri, a 1963 Enfield graduate, had Lyons as both a teacher and a coach.

"Jack was a kind and wonderful teacher," Pillitteri told Patch. "I remember how easy it was for him to recall our names years after we graduated from high school. In high school we respected him, because he respected us."

Former student Shelly Folsom wrote, "Such a great driving instructor! Fond memories sitting behind that big wheel in class trying not to hit the imaginary car."

"Jack was certainly a force of nature," longtime colleague Betsy Ogonis said. "Gruff on the exterior but with a heart of gold. He went far out of his way to help students."

On the Memory Wall accompanying Lyons' obituary on the Leete-Stevens Family Funeral Homes website, Sharon Gorman wrote, "Mr. Lyons was my driver education teacher, my brother’s football coach and lastly my mentor teacher when I was a student teacher at Enfield High. He had high expectations in all three scenarios. He kept a watchful eye on me later when I taught at JFK. God speed Jack."

Lyons leaves his wife of 61 years, Ann; a daughter and a son; and five grandchildren.

Visitation hours are scheduled Wednesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main St., Somers. Services and burial are private.

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