Laurence Dale “Lon” Sykes, a beloved family man and dedicated public health professional, passed away on February 3, 2026, after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He was surrounded by family at his home in Terra Linda, where he had lived for sixty years.
Born during the Great Depression in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in 1935, Lon pursued a degree in pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh. There, he not only honed his skills but also played trombone in the university’s marching band. After graduating, he joined the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), dedicating more than twenty years to public health and achieving the rank of Captain.
Lon’s early career in the USPHS began in Boston, Massachusetts, where he met his future wife, Ann. The couple married in 1961, embarking on a journey that took them to various locations, including Claremore, Oklahoma, and Savannah, Georgia. In 1966, they settled in San Francisco, California, and later in Terra Linda.
While he served as the Associate Director for Ambulatory Care at the USPHS hospital in San Francisco, Lon also pursued further education at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Master’s degree in Public Health during the socially turbulent late 1960s. After retiring from the USPHS in 1982, he returned to his roots as a pharmacist at Kaiser Hospital in Terra Linda.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Lon was passionate about music. He maintained a long-standing subscription to the Marin Symphony and played trombone for over fifty years with the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band, affectionately known as the “Sewer Band.” His meticulous nature extended to his home, vehicles, and garden, reflecting his deep pride in his surroundings.
Lon also had a keen interest in genealogy. He shared his enthusiasm for family research through volunteer work with the Marin County Genealogical Society. His interests encompassed travel, reading, antique cars, railroads, history, and current events, illustrating a life rich in experiences and knowledge.
He is survived by his wife, Ann, with whom he shared nearly 65 years of marriage, his sister Marian Davis, and six children: Janine Tedrow (Scott), Paul (Elaine), Gregory (Jesús), Laura Elkurdi (Ghassan), Daniel (Janet), and Karen Campton (Kevin). The family also includes ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, who will deeply miss his presence and guidance.
Lon’s ashes will be interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Terra Linda, and the family plans to hold a private celebration of life later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Isabella’s Church in Terra Linda, the Salvation Army, or the American Cancer Society. His legacy of love and dedication to family and community will be cherished by all who knew him.
