Schaumburg Library mourns former trustee Robert Lyons, who served 44 years on board

Former Schaumburg Township District Library Trustee Robert Lyons is being mourned by longtime colleagues following his death Thursday at the age of 87.

He served 44 years on the board from 1969 to 2013 and helped guide the library through an era of extraordinary growth, innovation and community service, library officials said. He oversaw the transformation of an initially small facility into one of the largest and most respected public libraries in Illinois.

“Bob Lyons leaves behind an extraordinary legacy not only for Schaumburg Township District Library but also for libraries across Illinois,” Executive Director Annie Miskewitch said. “His leadership, steady stewardship, and unwavering belief in the value of public libraries helped shape this organization into the trusted and vibrant community resource it is today.”

Lyons grew up in Cicero at a time when he said it was prejudiced, narrow-minded and run by “the syndicate.” However, the local library provided a ray of light, he said at the time of his retirement.

“Growing up, the library was extraordinarily important to me,” Lyons said. “Through the library, I learned there was another world, a larger world.”

His service earned him numerous honors, including the Illinois Library Association Trustee Citation Award in 2002 and the American Library Association Trustee Citation Award in 2005.

A memorial visitation is 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, 330 W. Golf Road in Schaumburg.

A funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Monday, May 18, at Holy Archangels Parish at St. Hubert Catholic Church, 729 Grand Canyon St. in Hoffman Estates.