Living with Zeal

Bill and Darleen Lyons have made their mark on the Santa Clarita Valley. The two of them, both individually and as a couple, have volunteered their time and talents with a number of community organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, Zonta, and here at College of the Canyons, where they support the MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) Program for the past 13 years.

What is your connection with College of the Canyons?

Bill: I taught an engineering class at COC and there's an organization on campus called MESA, and I happen to have a thing for science…I'm an engineer. It was much more than a job, it was a passion, and I like to share that. So, when we connected with MESA, it suited us perfectly because the kids are first in their family to become college students, they generally need financial help, and MESA is science oriented-a slam dunk for us. Consequently, we started a book fund because textbooks are out of sight, as much as $350 each. Thus, we started making yearly donations through the Foundation, aimed right at MESA. We've been doing it now for 13 years. That's how it happened.

Why did you choose to include COC in your estate plans?

Darleen : Because Bill is so passionate about engineering. I don't know if I've ever seen anyone that has the passion that he does for his career. And we don't have kids…he has 2 from his first marriage, but we don't have any together.

Bill: That's only part of the story. Darleen, all her life I think, has been very active in charities….so she set the tone. When you fall madly in love with this apparition from heaven…you have to help her out here and there. If I wanted to see her, I had to join her. I'd help with check-in, I'd schlep chairs, whatever. And we just got to thinking about our estate and what do we want to do with it. She didn't have kids and my kids are doing ok financially, so we wanted to do something with a meaning. Fortunate to live a life of zeal, we wanted to share it and perpetuate it. Again, MESA is a perfect match.

What do you hope to see for the future of the students at COC?

Bill: I want them to have fun

Darleen: And do what they like, not something because dad said so.

Bill: Education is critical to people's future. Financial wellbeing, mental wellbeing…it matters to be involved in things that matter. And we hope to pass that along in some way. We hope to set up a fund in perpetuity to help out.