David Joseph Lyons, 81, died on May 24, 2025, in Hercules, California, after
complications related to a bilateral stroke he suffered on Feb. 4, 2025. He was
surrounded by his family at the time of his passing.

Dave, as he was known to friends and family, was born on Dec. 27, 1943, in Dorchester,
Mass., to Henry and Virginia (Storer) Lyons.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Amy Meryl Lyons (Fruchtman), 68; their twin
children, Katherine (Katie) Eva Lyons, 30, and her partner Brent Durning, 58, of
Oakland, CA; and Raye Lyons, 30, of Los Angeles, CA; Dave’s eldest daughter, Joelle
Mickelsen Hammerstad, 56, her husband, David Reiner Hammerstad, 53, of Seattle,
WA; two grandsons, Boden James Hammerstad, 17, and Paxton Mickelsen
Hammerstad, 13, both of Seattle, WA.

He is preceded in death by his brother, Ronald X. Lyons, in 2010.

The most important role of his life was as a stay-at-home dad to Katie and Raye.

He was also a gifted French horn player, as well as being a very good guitar and
trumpet player. In the 1970s, he was the guitar player and lead singer for the band
Cheap Thrills. He played the French horn in a number of quintets throughout his life, the
last being the New Quintet. His family remembers fondly how, after a few beers on
Christmas or other important holidays, he’d get out his guitar and sing to his kids. He
even learned the Harry Potter theme song after his children became big Harry Potter
fans.

He graduated from Boston College where he majored in mathematics. He went on to
finish a master’s degree from Carnegie-Mellon University in mathematics. He was in a
mathematics dissertation program at Carnegie-Mellon University; he finished the
coursework, but did not complete the dissertation.

A non-denominational memorial service will be held at Sunset View Cemetery & Mortuary, 101 Colusa Ave., El Cerrito, CA, 94530, on Friday, June 20, at 11 a.m.
Internment will follow directly after with a reception lunch to be held also at Sunset View.
The chapel service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please make charitable contributions to Boys & Girls Club of Oakland,
Bay Area Rescue or Heifer International.

The past four months since the stroke were among the most difficult months of his life,
as well as for those who loved him most. He suffered greatly before his passing, and the
family is so grateful to the hospice program at Kaiser Permanente, for helping his
passing to be as peaceful and supported as possible. The family is so grateful to the
wonderful caregivers at PRN Care Home 2 for treating him with kindness, dignity and
respect.

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