Mark Lyons recalled as compassionate, fair, tireless advocate for Topsfield

Aug. 8--Editor's Note: Services for Mark Lyons will be at the Goldman Funeral Chapel, 174 Ferry Street (off Rt. 60), in Malden on Friday, Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Topsfield. To see his obituary, visit https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=mark-b-lyons&pid=193582466&fhid=20814.

Topsfield Board of Selectmen Chairman Mark Lyons today is being remembered as a compassionate consensus-builder and tireless advocate for the town of Topsfield, which he loved dearly.

Lyons, who has served on many boards and committees over the years, died suddenly yesterday. He was found unresponsive in his car on Rt. 1 in Rowley, and efforts to revive him were not successful.

State Rep. Brad Hill said, "I think one of the first things I thought about is how compassionate he was dealing with people."

Lyons, he said, had a very calm demeanor and was able to bring different factions to the table to make decisions.

"He truly loved the town of Topsfield," Hill said. "That was evident by the way he was a public servant. I learned to be a better legislator by working with him."

Hill, who worked closely with Lyons during the Town Hall renovations, said, "We're going to miss him dearly."

Topsfield Interim Town Administrator Robin Crosbie released a brief statement last night saying, "It is with deep sadness that the Topsfield Board of Selectmen announces to the community that Chairman Mark Lyons passed away suddenly on August 6, 2019. Mark was an esteemed colleague and friend, and will be missed by his family, friends and community."

Crosbie said by phone last night, "This is a shock for everybody. I was just meeting with him and a couple staff people this afternoon."

She said the Board of Selectmen will release a more complete statement in the coming days.

Selectman Dick Gandt said, "This is just a great loss, not just for his family and many friends. The board's going to miss his experience and leadership."

Lyons, Gandt said, really listened to what people had to say, and he was skilled at gathering the facts and forming a consensus for making decisions.

"The town will miss him, clearly," Gandt said. "We're going to miss him."

Lyons was a founding partner at his firm, Lyons & Tzanoudakis, and practiced law for 35 years, concentrating in real estate, business, estate planning and estate administration.

Lyons has served Topsfield in many roles. He was elected to the Planning Board, the School Committee, and the Board of Selectmen, and he was appointed to the Finance Committee. He was active on the Town Hall Building Committee, and in 2014, Lyons was appointed to a special committee to study the issue of fluoride in the town's drinking water.

"He has worked so hard for the community," Crosbie said.

Topsfield Fire Chief Jen Collins-Brown said, "He was such a fair person."

She said he was very thoughtful and was dedicated to the employees of the town. He made them feel like they were doing a good job, she said.

"He would support you in your decisions," Collins-Brown said.

The chief was planning to hang black bunting at Town Hall today to honor Lyons.

Masconomet School Committee Member Bill Hodges got to know Lyons when Lyons was on the Finance Committee. They worked together during budget season, and he would see Lyons around town. He said it was always a pleasure to do business with him and to just talk to him.

"Just a generally decent, good human being who loved his town," Hodges said of Lyons.

Lyons was pleased to give of himself to make Topsfield a better place, he said.

Topsfield Police Capt. Gary Hayward said, "He was a fantastic guy."

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