Jack Lyons loves Bobby Orr.
Since he was in diapers, his grandmother would read Orr on Ice. It’s a book Jack will still take to bed with him now at the age of 14.
“We have a book that is 50 years old and it was his first book,” said his father Mark Lyons, whose son has autism.
Jack Lyons, who has become a celebrity of types, as the face of “Light it Up Blue” which celebrates autism awareness in North Bay.
See related: North Bay father passionate about Light It Up Blue
While the Lyons’ father and son duo is still mourning the game seven loss in the Stanley Cup finals on Wednesday, they ended up sharing their greatest moment as Bruins fans as they both had the opportunity to meet Bobby Orr two days later.
Friends of the Lyons family helped connect Mark and Jack to a Bobby Orr book signing in Parry Sound for the “My Story in Pictures” 2018 Orr publication at the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame.
Mark tried to keep the unique visit a secret as he and Jack drove to Parry Sound Friday night.
“As we got to Parry Sound at the lights a guy had a Bruins shirt on,” recalled Mark.
“As I got to the museum, I was not sure how Jack would react when he would meet him.”
Dave Garagan is a close friend of Bobby Orr.
He was one of those who helped coordinate the visit for the Lyons father and son.
“There was a big line up of people and Dave Garagan took him to Bobby, of course Jack hugged him and had all the time to talk to Jack and show him his book,” recalled Lyons noting Orr spent 15 minutes with Jack.
“I am truly blessed with how people go out of the way to make his day.”
For dad, it was a special moment too.
"I was shaking when I met him," he admitted.
