Murray L. “Mike” Lyon, 67, an attorney with the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin, died Wednesday in the Hospice of the North Shore of Evanston Hospital.
Born in Providence, R.I., he grew up in Fall River, Mass. He graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and graduated from Catholic University Law School in Washington in 1968.
Mr. Lyon was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Japan during the 1950s.
He worked in family businesses after college but moved to Washington to serve in government after being inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s call for service to the country. He worked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics while attending law school at night.
After receiving his law degree, Mr. Lyon went to work in the Federal Trade Commission’s Anti-Trust Division.
“He was really a big believer in busting up the monopolies,” said his wife, Joan.
Mr. Lyon came to Chicago to work as a counsel for McGraw Edison Co., a large electric company. He worked there several years before joining the A.E. Staley Co. in Chicago in the same capacity. He later joined Sidley & Austin.
A Glencoe resident, he was president of Congregation Hakafa in Winnetka, and worked as a parachaplin in nursing homes. “He was someone who believed in helping people, especially people less fortunate,” his wife said.
Other survivors include his father, Nathan; a son, Jonathon; a daughter, Betsy Halzel; a sister; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave.
