Photo: www.legacy.com
HYANNIS – The man credited with leading the effort to create Cape Cod Healthcare and pulling Cape Cod Hospital out of a financial downturn passed away on Sunday.
James Lyons of Yarmouth Port was 85.
He joined Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis as president in 1981 amid a major financial crisis for the institution.
During his long tenure, Lyons was able to stabilize the Cape’s largest hospital and was instrumental in forging the merger with Falmouth Hospital.
Many healthcare observers said that without the merger of Cape Cod’s only two hospitals, the healthcare systems would likely have been taken over at some point by a large off-Cape operator
Instead, the combined entity flourished under Lyons, returning to profitability and expanding its healthcare options, including improved cancer and cardiac services. He retired in 1998.
According to his obituary on legacy.com, Lyons was born in Boston, graduated from St. Mary’s High School and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.
He worked as a pharmacist at Falmouth Hospital, Cardinal Cushing Hospital and was president of St. Anne’s Hospital before taking the top spot at Cape Cod Hospital.
Lyons is the husband of the late Margaret (O’Malley) Lyons and survived by daughters Margaret Scheller (Charles) of Hanson, Molly Fedele (Todd) of Marstons Mills, siblings Susan Evans of California and Albert Lyons of Stoughton, grandchildren Matthew Scheller, Morgan and Jaye Fedele.
Visiting hours are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, from 4-7pm in the John-Lawrence Funeral Home in Marstons Mills. Funeral services are set for Saturday Oct. 12, at 10am in Our Lady of Victory Church, 230 S. Main St., Centerville.
Burial will be in Mosswood Cemetery. Memorials to Jason A. Fedele Scholarship Fund, 455 W. Main St., Hyannis, MA 02601.
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