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Ossining Native Ron Lyons, 77, Football Coach, Athletic Director

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. -- Former Katonah-Lewisboro School District athletic director and John Jay High School football coach Ron Lyons, 77, a Westchester County Sports Hall of Famer and one of the key figures in Section 1 athletic history, died at his home in New Fairfield, Conn., this week.

Former K-L AD and John Jay football coach Ron Lyons, right, died at the age of 77 at his home in New Fairfield, Conn. Above, Lyons is shown with current K-L Schools AD Christian McCarthy after being inducted into the school's Hall of Fame last fall.

Former K-L AD and John Jay football coach Ron Lyons, right, died at the age of 77 at his home in New Fairfield, Conn. Above, Lyons is shown with current K-L Schools AD Christian McCarthy after being inducted into the school's Hall of Fame last fall.

Photo Credit: Katonah-Lewisboro School District

Lyons coached for 12 years at John Jay, where he compiled a 109-20-2 record. His last season was in 1979, when he led the Indians to a 9-0 record. His tenure also included a school-record 35-game winning streak, 11 league titles and two bowl championships.

He served as the athletic director at Katonah-Lewisboro Schools for 21 years and was inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame and recognized as the New York State Athletic Administrator of the Year for Chapter One in 1990. Lyons also founded John Jay's Booster Club.

Lyons worked at John Jay from 1962-65, serving as a physical education teacher, driver’s education teacher and athletics director. He also coached baseball and won 92 games and two Sectional crowns. Lyons worked as interim athletic director at Bedford Central Schools after retiring from Katonah-Lewisboro Schools.

He was born in Ossining and graduated from Croton Harmon High School, where he was a three-sport athlete. His number was retired in football, where he scored a record four touchdowns in one game.

Lyons graduated from Denver University, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned an administrative degree from New York University.

After leaving John Jay, Lyons moved to New Fairfield in 2002 and was an active supporter of his grandchildren and their athletic and artistic endeavors.

He is survived by his wife Joan (Sarcone) and his children: Dawn and Kenny Munoz, Ronnie and Sue Lyons, Karen and Michael Deutsch, and Alessandra and Rick Maxwell. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and his sister, Joan Palmer.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Edwards the Confessor Church, New Fairfield, Conn. Interment will follow at St. Augustine's Cemetery, Ossining. Visitation will be held on Friday March 13, at Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster, from 3-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the L. Ronald Lyons Scholarship fund c/o Katonah Lewisboro Schools, Katonah, NY 10536 or Danbury Animal Welfare Society, 174 Grassy Plain St. Bethel, Conn., 06801.

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