Daniel P. Lyons

Daniel Patrick Lyons, 33, of Alexandria, VA, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2014 in Camp Hill, PA. He was born in Philadelphia on December 14, 1980, son of Patricia A. Lyons and the late Daniel P. Lyons.

Dan was always on the lookout for the next adventure. His life was a mixture of school and service, friends and family, travel and faith, each overlapping the other. He was a graduate of Economics – and Valedictorian – of George Washington University (M.A. 2014), Fordham University (M.A. 2008), the Catholic University of America (B.A. 2003), and Trinity High School (1999). He worked for the State Department of Pennsylvania, Ave Maria University in Florida, and held numerous other assistantships, resident life, volunteer, service and development positions. Dan lit up the room with his smile, loved to play sports, sing off-key to Bruce Springsteen, cheer for Philly teams and Notre Dame, drink a coffee or a Guinness, outscore Jeopardy! contestants, bowl a 200 game, spend time with family and friends, and travel the world. He visited 52 countries and 44 states, leaving an indelible mark upon each destination, whether a mission trip to India to care for the sick or a belated honeymoon to Costa Rica. His final journey was a battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which he fought courageously with his wife, Hanna Jo Lyons, for almost five years. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Dan and Hanna captured and shared their poignant and powerful story, which can be found at http://danlyonsall.blogspot.com/.

Dan was a beloved husband, son, grandson, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle, godfather, godson, and friend. In addition to his mother Patty Lyons, of Camp Hill, PA, and wife, Hanna Lyons of Alexandria, VA, he is survived by his brother Joseph Lyons (wife Sarah, nephew Maxwell, niece Emma) of Pittsburgh, PA. Dan is also survived by Hanna’s family: parents, Robert and Wanda Bauer Gabler, of Camp Hill, PA, as well as Hanna’s siblings: Tyson Gabler (wife Christy, son Carson) of New Cumberland, PA; Evan Gabler of Harrisburg, PA; Colin Gabler (wife Kathleen) of Athens, OH; Shana Blayney (husband Warren, nephew Ronan, nieces Ellen and Gwyneth) of Camp Hill, PA; Logan Gabler of Camp Hill, PA; and Quintin Gabler of San Francisco, CA. Dan leaves behind family and friends literally all across the world. “Little Danny” joins his father, “Big Dan” who lost his own courageous battle with cancer in July 2011.

The viewing will be Wednesday, May 21, from 6-8pm at Neill Funeral Home, 3401 Market St. Camp Hill. Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, May 22, at 10:30am at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 3435 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill.

Memorial contributions can be made to Be The Match (www.bethematch.org) or A Simple House (http://asimplehouse.org/donate/).