Alumni Years

Memories of K. Margaret Lyons ’49

By Karen McQuigge ’90

“Who are you?”

Those were the first words Margaret Lyons ever said to me. It’s not often you remember that kind of thing, but then Margaret was impressively memorable.

We met because I was a relatively new member of the Alumni Office team and Margaret was already one of the McMaster Alumni Association’s most dedicated volunteers. On the day we spoke for the first time, we were both early arrivals – she was always early – for an Alumni Association board meeting. She asked me a few pointed questions, sized up my responses, found that I passed some sort of muster and then went to the sandwich tray where she hunted her favourites.

As it would turn out, this interaction was quintessentially Margaret.

[Margaret Lyons Awarded the Student Opportunity Fund Award]

Margaret is awarded the Student Opportunity Fund Award. Margaret and Ed Lyons are pictured with University President, Peter George

Deeply grateful towards McMaster for accepting her back in 1944 when no other institution would, Lyons became a devoted alumna, champion, and donor to the University. Despite decades passing after graduating with a Bachelor's degree, Lyons continued to stay involved within the McMaster community by establishing a philanthropic legacy alongside her husband, Ed. In 1996, she was awarded with a Doctorate of Letters by McMaster University.

To learn more about Lyons' contributions to McMaster, please feel free to engage in the various articles, documents, and images showcased below.

[The McMaster Alumni Class of 1949]

Class of 1949 Reunion photo

[Margaret Lyons featured on Alumni Connection Flyer]

[McMaster Times (alumni magazine) featuring Margaret Lyons]

[McMaster Student Union Alumni Association Newsletter featuring Margaret Lyons]

[Margaret Lyons Commentary on Generation X on Mac Times Newspaper]

Margaret's commentary in the Mac Times on Generation X

[Margaret Lyons featured on Directions on Financial Planning]

Who is Margaret Lyons and why do you want to know her? Article in the McMaster University Directions in Financial Planning

[Margaret Lyons featured on Memories of Mac Newspage]

Margaret Lyons featured in the McMaster Times

Honourary Degree

Doctorate of Letters Acceptance Letter

Honourary Degree

[University President presenting Margaret Lyons her honorary degree]

Peter George presenting Margaret with her honorary degree

[Margaret Lyons, Margaret Atwood, and Peter George at Convocation

Margaret receiving honorary degree and McMaster Convocation

Margaret Lyons and Margaret Atwood with Peter George

[Margaret Lyons and Margaret Atwood]

Honorary degree recipients Margaret Lyons and Margaret Atwood

Donations to the McMaster Museum of Art

In 1992, Margaret Lyons graciously donated some of the Japanese artwork she has collected over her lifetime to the McMaster Museum of Art. Displayed below are titles of some of her most famous donated works; please click any of the links below to find the full collection, housed under the label "Japanese Prints from Margaret Lyons".