James A. Lyons Jr.

James Allen Lyons, Jr. His mother called him Jimmy. Also known as Grandfather/Granddad, Uncle Jim, Jolly Jim, Jimbo, the Golden Bear, and Dad, Jim left us on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, after 95 years of dedication to his family and community. He was born in Philadelphia, PA to James and M. Dorothy (Doyle) Lyons and grew up playing golf, with a smattering of tennis and basketball, at Torresdale Country Club. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Prep, he worked at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport to help put himself through St. Joseph’s College and developed lifelong habits of loving airplanes and drinking black coffee. He was a proud member of Villanova Law School’s first graduating class and went to work the day after he graduated, having been blessed with both a wife, Helen Froehlich, a high school friend he married in 1954, and a baby girl. He was devoted to his nine children and eventually his twenty-one grandchildren – nothing made him happier than to be surrounded by his large, noisy family.

Jim practiced real estate law in a variety of corporate, governmental, and legal roles until founding his own law firm, Coan & Lyons, with his partner Carl Coan, Jr. He took special pride in helping to create affordable housing; he enjoyed being able to point to a building and say that he played a part in its creation. He also contributed his time and expertise to organizations focused on helping people find or build homes, including the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. His community service extended to the churches he belonged to, whether serving as an altar boy as a child or, in his retirement, driving elderly neighbors to mass at the Jersey shore. He spoke fondly of the church dances he and Helen went to as teens, where they and some friends once won a dance competition and used the cash prize to buy enough gas to get home.

Although Jim and Helen started raising their family in Levittown, PA, Jim’s career led them to spend over thirty years in Rockville, MD, where he coached soccer, sat through piano and dance recitals, and went on Boy Scout camping trips. His favorite place, however, was their beach home in Margate, NJ, where he could read a history book by his gas fireplace in the winter or sit on the front porch in the summer, watching his sandy grandchildren wander home from the beach or listening to them laughing and playing card games in the living room.

Jim was predeceased by Helen, his best friend and loving wife of 53 years; two children, Margaret “Peggy” Lyons and Thomas Lyons; his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia Lyons Roder and Captain Peter S. Roder; his brother-in-law Anthony Froehlich Jr.; his daughter-in-law Joellen Beifuss Lyons; and grandson John Lyons. He is survived by seven children: Mary Kathleen Lyons (Earl Bennett), Barbara Ann Lyons (Jeff Quarles), Michael Lyons, Carolyn Lyons (Chris Dangel), Andy Lyons (Zilose), Jeanne Lyons Liedtka (Stephen), and James Lyons (Stacey), and daughter-in-law Victoria Farrell. He also leaves behind twenty grandchildren: Christopher Bennett, Genevieve Bennett, Kathleen Bennett (Peter Wright), Grace Bennett (Trip Brennan), Molly Lyons, Emily Quarles (Aaron Peters), Nathaniel Quarles (Alexis), Matthew Quarles, Nick Lyons, Kathleen Lyons, Annelise Lyons, Charlotte Dangel, Luke Dangel, Margaret Liedtka, Elizabeth Liedtka, Jack Liedtka, Anneliese Liedtka, Brynn Lyons, Evan Lyons, and Sean Lyons. Jim was delighted to get to meet his great-granddaughter, Marie Kaszuba. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Services will be private on Tuesday, February 10th at 11:30am, but the mass will be livestreamed for those who would like to watch. A celebration of life will follow in June in Margate, NJ.

Livestream link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87053160996?pwd=lF6ntlddjMIAMMYxesqS4fKwLsiUsC.1

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the James and Helen Lyons Scholarship Fund at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School in honor of Jim’s belief in providing everyone opportunities through the power of education. https://www.cristoreyphiladelphia.org/?form=donate

Arrangements by Alleva Funeral Home, 1724 E. Lancaster Ave., Paoli, PA. (610) 644-3540.