The End of An Era — Thank You, Lloyd Lyons

Lloyd Lyons graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, served his country two years in the Korean War, and then owned Samuel’s Pharmacy in Winthrop Center, operating his popular drugstore for more than 60 years.

It was personal service at its best, with Mr. Lyons knowing all of his customers by name, leaving the store at times to personally make deliveries to the homes of residents with physical disabilities, and always being there at the store to answer any questions about their prescriptions. He operated a successful independent pharmacy for years before the giants entered the industry and all but ended the era of independent drugstores.

But Mr. Lyons stayed true to his good intentions of helping people and providing them with personal and professional service each day until now, at the age of 86, he has decided to close his pharmacy and retire.

Mr. Lyons’s son, Peter, followed him in to the profession, proudly workly with his father for many years while also serving commendably as the head coach of the Winthrop High school golf team. Peter brought the same qualities of professionalism and dependability to his customers, who valued his judgment and honesty.

Mr. Lyons’s, oldest son, John, the community development coordinator in the Tewksbury school system, was a highly respected selectman and member of the Winthrop School Committee. He became the director of athletics at Winthrop High School and brought more credit and distinction to this outstanding Winthrop family. Mr. Lyons and his wife, Pauline Stratos, can be so proud of their sons, who have carried on his legacy of caring and kindness. We might all mention when as youths, John and Peter attended the Camp Robie sports camp at the Chelsea YMCA — they were the kids to whom the other kids gravitated because of their athletic excellence and friendliness.

We are losing an institution in this town, one that has been a gathering spot and hub of Winthrop Center for decades.

We thank Lloyd Lyons and Samuel’s Pharmacy for all those years of excellence and for being a good friend and neighbor to all who came into his majestic pharmacy that will close on April 14.

We know we speak for all of our fellow residents in which Lloyd good health and best wishes in his retirement.