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Dana A. Lyon, longtime Napa resident, passed away after a short illness on Monday, March 16, 2015. He was 65. He is remembered as being a devoted family man, and an outgoing, fun-loving, generous spirit who loved automobiles, photographic arts, dogs, boating and above all, music. His guitar playing was superb, and his spirit in spreading the love of music to all who knew him boundless. The results of his teachings are well represented by how many family and friends play and enjoy music. He was a loving father to his two sons, Trevor and Jeremy, adoring grandfather to Marley, and a pillar of the Lyon family.
Dana was born March 26, 1949, in San Francisco, but his childhood home was in the suburbs, in Daly City. Dana became a Napan in 1960 when the family purchased a new Volkswagen dealership here. He attended Napa High, graduating in 1967. Shortly after, he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Freathy. They later divorced.
From age 15 on, he worked in the family auto dealership in every capacity, managing the Parts Department, selling VW’s and later BMW’s, and rising to General Manager. His honesty and dedication to serving the customers were traits still remembered by his many loyal customers while his escapades with hot VWs, Porsches, and the dune buggy caused frequent talk in the local auto circles, especially his winning the drags in his little black bug.
Dana went on to work in the Insurance and financial planning business and managing the family real estate holdings. Never one to sit still, he then honed his skills as a Photographer, earning a certificate in Photography at Napa Valley College, before opening Studio II Gallery with his sister Sandra Ogle. The gallery was a great gathering place for photographers and artists, and Dana was always a willing teacher and mentor.
Music was interwoven all through these years. He had started teaching himself to play guitar when he was just a child in Daly City. He had a few lessons, and even a little band while still at school. Once graduating High School, the music began to take on more serious overtones. He and Steve Jeffrey formed a band, Cobblestone, which played venues all over the valley for many years. Meanwhile, he would teach music to anyone who asked.
He is survived by his two sons, Trevor and Jeremy, granddaughter Marley, and his sister, Sandra Ogle (Richard, deceased), all of Napa, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his dog, Beau. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank “Al” Lyon and Berla Fay Poole, and his brother Gary “Steve” Lyon, all of Napa, and his sister Lisa Karen Longoria, of Roswell, New Mexico.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that a donation be made to Napa Humane, or to VH1 Save the Music.
Since this story was published in the Napa Valley Register, a scholarship has been established in Dana's name at Napa High School and donations are also welcomed there.
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Scott Leonard
A truly gentle soul lost to a world that can use all the gentleness it can get.
John Beatty
I met Dana in the ninth grade at Ridgeview, and remember him for his love of cars and driving them with abandon. He lived up the hill, at the top of "the Notch" on Old Sonoma Rd. and he used to race around the property in his dune buggy. We also used to race cars in the parking lot were the factory outlets are now, was a sports car club regilar event back then. Dana always had better wheels, but I think all that practice back then, after the store closed. is one of the reasons I've survived all the miles since.
I didn't get to know Dana's musical side, but if it was equal to the guy I remember from those days I'm sorry I missed it. He was a serious guy about the things he liked I bet he would have been a good act to catch.
Christine Pighini (Chapdelaine)
I didn't know Dana well until more recent years. I began to bump into him at Browns Valley Market. During one of our visits, I learned he was in a band, and a subsequent visit that he'd become a professional photographer. It wasn't until I had a need did I learn how talented & kind he was.
After both our parents were gone, our family through my leading asked Dana to make museum quality photos of as many of Mom's paintings we could gather together, prior to dividing them amongst ourselves, making it possible that each of us could continue to enjoy them all. Dana took great pains to remove their frames, took photos, and then put them back together for us. For all this he only charged our family $400, (or was it $200?). Either which way, it was far too little, but he insisted on giving me a discount. I suspect it wasn't just because of friendship & our Napa roots, but also because he'd gone thru the pain of losing both parents & knew how precious the paintings had become to me.
The last image I have of Dana is the joy that played upon his face as he joined his band on Highland Avenue, participating in what would later become his last Porchfest 2015. It was the first time I'd seen him play, and it was obvious by he loved playing music & singing even more than he loved his photography! Now, whenever I gaze upon one of Mom's reproductions, I'm reminded of that lasting image of Dana & the reminder of his kindness during a tender time in my life. Thank you, Dana, for your gifts to me.