Newport Local is “Pro” at Community Service

By: Brittany Lyon
Posted In: Profile

NEWPORT – He begins with the “take two beers to tell” story of a nickname that has lasted a life time. Mansfield Lyon derived the nickname “Pro” back in the eighth grade. In junior high Lyon fell in love with the drums. Not having a drum at home, he practiced on a wooden block as well as going once a week to practice at the high school. One day during practice, musical director Dr. Otto asked Lyon, who was previously nicknamed Skip, to play a solo on the flamididdle. Skip played. Pleased by his talent Dr. Otto congratulated Skip by calling him a professional. From then on, the name “professional” stuck and later shortened to just “Pro.” “Pro” Lyon stopped playing the drums after that year, but the nickname drummed on for years to come.

Leaving his previous profession of drums, Lyon has become something of a professional through his work in community service. This modest man who gives rather than takes is one of Newport’s top community service advocates.

Intelligent with a witty and smart sense of humor, the loyal “Pro” Lyon modestly speaks of his grand accomplishments to the Newport Community. His words are carefully chosen. He makes certain that what is said is what is meant. His wife describes him as the type of man who is true to his word. The man who claims to still be growing up describes his work in the community as an unbelievably rewarding experience for all those involved. “If you’ve got the itch it becomes natural to see what’s involved,” said Lyon.

Lyon is highly involved in many organizations such as Trinity Church. He is the former president of Family Promise of Newport County, which provided temporary shelter for homeless families. He is on the Newport Accessibility Advisory Committee, which explores the amount of accessibility in Newport for persons with disabilities. The group is currently trying to get more cuts in the sidewalks as well as making more of the building handicap accessible. Lyon also edits a monthly newsletter for Trinity Church. Recently, Lyon and his wife, Mary, were honored by the Newport Daily News for their community service.

Lyon’s commitment to service began long before his days in Newport. Born in Wallingford Connecticut Lyon was one of four children and describes himself as a straight-A student with tortoise shell glasses and hair that stuck straight out, looking more like a professor than a kid. In his teens he went to boarding school where his commitment to service began. The school drummed into him the importance of a commitment to the community. “Service above self,” says Lyon. At boarding school, he began to experience the benefits of service. “It’s fun. It’s very seriously rewarding discovering facts of ourselves and the world around us,” said Lyon. He believes that service is somewhat like immersing yourself in the color of life.

It was during his time at boarding school that Lyon contracted Polio. At age 13 Lyon calls this his “watershed” moment.

Graduating from boarding school and taking some time to work, Lyon then found himself in his mid-twenties. His mother set him up on what he calls an encouraged first date with a girl they believed to be just right for him. On a February night in 1956 Mary and Lyon went to a minor league hockey game. The couple began to date. They grew up in the same town, went to the same high school, and attended the same church, yet had never met. Five months later in July, Mary and Lyon were sitting in his car as he told Mary he had $200 in his bank account. “I have some money and I want to go to California or get married,” said Lyon. “I thought the latter one was better,” said Mary. And with that the couple was engaged. He was 26 and his bride 22.

Looking back on their earlier days together Lyon remembers the reasons that initially attracted him to his wife. “There were three things,” Lyon said. “He really liked my ankles,” adds Mary. “Well those are two of the reasons and the third was that it got my mother off my back,” Lyon concludes.

When he and his wife first came to Newport they both taught at St. Michaels School. She taught third grade and he taught math, science, composition, newspaper, and coached every sport that the school offered. They lived in Newport for two years, but shortly after found themselves “making babies quicker than pay rises,” says Lyon. After their daughter Sue was born, the family moved back to Connecticut, where they spent the next 13 years. A boy and two more girls arrived. The family later moved back to Newport and Lyon became the headmaster of St. Michael’s School.

It was during their time in Connecticut that their eldest daughter Sue was discovered to have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Also, by the age of 12, she had lost her eyesight. It was through this experience that Lyon saw, “what humanity was about.” Lyon explains, “it was like she was walking through hell barefoot.” Before her death Sue had accomplished much in her time and continues to be an inspiration for Mary and Lyon. Sue was a UCC minister and served as chaplain at the Hartford hospital. Overall, she wanted to better the lives of others. From their daughter, they were shown what can be done in spite of everything. Even today much of their work is from the inspiration and memory of their eldest child.

The couple who married in their twenties is now in their mid seventies and he still is “very much in awe of everything his wife does,” said Lyon “she is who I admire.”

Through out the interview Lyon never once called her Mary, but endearingly referred to her as “my wife” or “my bride.”

When choosing his projects Lyon and his wife don’t necessarily go looking for projects, but rather they “react to things you know in your heart need attention,” explains Lyon. A need opens and the couple reacts to it.

On most projects Mary works with “Pro” and describes their work habits as being opposite of one another. Mary sets a goal and makes a straight line for it, while Lyon looks all around the goal to find possible alternative routes. “We respect each other and bounce off one another,” said Mary. She explains that at times it is best to get out of each others way. When describing one another Lyon explains that he is reliable and curious, but also has a habit of procrastination. “I would be surprised if my wife has any short-coming,” Lyon explains. He also jokes that his response may just get him out of a week of dishes.

In the midst of their busy schedule the couple enjoys reading and Netflix in their leasure time. Lyon looks at Mary and chuckled when describing his typical day. Lyon explains that both are heavy readers. He prefers the Minnesota writer, John Sanford’s work “Rules of Prey,” which reveals the adventures of the main character Lucas Davenport. Lyon also shares that he is currently writing a short story for children, which he works on most days. The story is concerned with children who are growing up during the time of Bethlehem.

Tim and Cathy Moore are a couple that has known the Lyon’s since the sixties. Tim first met “Pro” at St. Michael School, where he previously taught. He explains that Lyon used to be a guitar player. The two also used to be in the Trinity choir together.

Moore described Lyon as a good listener who is sensitive to the needs of others. He is a man who is constantly involved and is always alert to new necessities. Moore also describes Lyon as having a way with words, “he’s a very lucid speaker and a word smith,” said Moore.

Moore also adds that Lyon constantly finds conversation in the mundane. On occasional Saturday afternoons the Lyons and the Moores drive to Providence for a theatre matinee movie and dinner. Frequently when they are out, Moore explains that Lyon is recognized almost everywhere they go. Once when they were at the theatre, Lyon struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to him. He did not know the man, but found himself having an in-depth conversation. Moore explains that this is typical Lyon to strike up a conversation with anyone he meets.

Moore’s wife Cathy describes Lyon as very service oriented. “If there is a need in the community you can tap “Pro” Lyon on the shoulder,” said Moore. She continues by describing the strength of Lyon and his wife. “I don’t know of another couple who backs each other up like they do,” Moore explains of the couple.

Living in Newport since 1971 Lyon has seen the city evolve. He describes the city’s greatest strength to be its strong sense of community, yet that has been lost throughout the years. “With real estate prices rocketing and many properties now being acquired by second home owners, I see something of a challenge to that sense of community,” said Lyon. He would like to be buried in the community that Newport once was. His hope is that Newport doesn’t lose that sense. Yet, ironically through his service work, Lyon is contributing to bringing Newport’s sense of community back.

The success of “Pro” Lyon goes beyond his awards and prominence in the community. Yet despite his many awards and praise, Lyon believes that his greatest success is his marriage and raising his children. “The kids raised us as much as we raised them.” Although he has already achieved so much Lyon’s journey is far from over. “We’re not at the end of the road, I don’t know if we’ll ever get there.” With a mischievous look on his face, Lyon begins to tell a story.

A plumber from San Diego is trying to get to Kansas City. He keeps reaching halfway marks, but Kansas City never comes. He sets out on his three day journey, but simply cannot make it to Kansas City. It is impossible. He begins drinking, gets divorced, remarries, and walks back home. Several days later he reconsiders his journey and sets foot once again, but this time for New York City. Three days later the man arrived in Kansas City. When he is halfway to New York City he reaches Kansas City. “My journey isn’t over yet,” said Lyon, “I want to go to New York City.”