Christopher Lyon
Chiron Tutor
Phone:
(715) 965-3922
Email:
About Chris
Chris is the newest member of the team and is excited to begin the adventure of guiding young Riverside men on their journey to become heroes.
He has been a beloved teacher and revered rugby coach at Chesterton Academy of the Holy Family for the last eight years. He has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of history and has taught all eras from the history of late antiquity to modern and U.S. Constitutional history. Almost as well-versed in literature, Chris has focused on the Medieval realm while at Chesterton.
But, his style is never just about content curation, facts, and dates. Chris has an insatiable curiosity and love of storytelling that translates into his teaching. He is known for great rapport with students and epic hands-on projects like shield-making, and 3D battle maps.
Perhaps this is in part because Chris spent his own high school years at St. Gregory's Academy (now Gregory the Great Academy), an all-boys boarding school in Pennsylvania, which like Riverside, understands a boy's restless energy, need for action, and desire to be challenged.
After graduation Chris served as an infantry machine gunner in the United States Marine Corps, and was deployed overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He plans to incorporate outdoor adventuring and basic military training into Chiron, which will help the apprentices grow as strong and courageous men of faith.
He has a lifelong love of rugby and led the Chesterton Saints to a state title in 2025. He has coached for over 10 years at the high school and college levels and hopes to introduce Riverside boys to this rugged sport.
It might sound funny given Chris' passion for history, to call him a "Renaissance" man, but this rugby-playing Marine also helped with theater productions at Chesterton and with the choir, especially during pilgrimages to Rome. He intends for Chiron apprentices to learn the beautiful prayers and hymns of our Christian faith, helping them grow on the inside to be disciples of Our Lord.
As if all this weren't enough, Chris plays music as well and is part of a band (with Peter Searby) called Basil and the Wrath Bones. He runs a film podcast, "Bards with Beards and builds ship models and paints tabletop miniatures. Plus, as you can see, he is not averse to costumes if an occasional calls for one, which is a bonus at Riverside.
Chris has an incredible and growing family; five daughters, one son, and a supportive wife, Jaimie. She is a nurse, as well as an administrator and teacher at Regina Caeli Academy in Lemont. Fiona, Avi, Bailey and Bri have all participated in the Riverside Creative Arts camps. Theoden will one day be a Riverside pupil and the youngest, Lillian, adores music and being outdoors! Being at Riverside will allow Chris more quality time with them, which he says, "is a true gift from God" and something he greatly looks forward to.