Dr. Leslie J. "Jack" Fyans, Jr., PhD

Leslie J. “Jack” Fyans, Jr. was born on September 6, 1952, in Salt Lake City, to Officers Antoinette Picco Fyans and Leslie J. “Jack” Fyans. He passed to his heavenly home on June 12, 2023, at his residence after long illness.

God’s hand was highly visible in Jack’s life, even before birth. God spared the lives of his parents and mother’s brother John Picco in WW II. Known as “Little Leslie” and “Bo Bo” by his brother John J. Fyans, was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah with exception of his infancy in Umatilla, Oregon, as his father led the US Military Corps of Engineers’ construction of the McNary Lock and Dam. In Utah, he was sent to Christ Lutheran Church and School, a mission church, for private, religious education. His pastor W. C. Naatz gave him a picture of Christ tending His sheep. From that time forward Jack felt Christ’s calling to “feed my lambs, feed my sheep, take care of my sheep’ John 21:15-17.

Jack was proceeded in death by his parents, Leslie J. Fyans, Antoinette (Picco) Fyans, and his brother, John J. Fyans.

Jack’s grandmother Mae Farnsworth Fyans, although LDS, gave him his first Luther’s Catechism. She fostered his intelligence and independence even when at four he took apart her record player and took a bus tour by himself to downtown Salt Lake City. “Let little Leslie explore, maybe he’ll invent something more important than my brother’s tv.” (Philo T. Farnsworth- great uncle, inventor of television). Grandma Fyans, an RN, helped the family cope when Jack’s brother Johnny was born with Downs Syndrome. Jack became forever protective of those who were less able, skilled, accepted or without opportunity to achieve. “Son, you have to learn to be comfortable with who you are- no matter what,” his grandma would say.

Despite the difficult adjustment of his parent’s divorce and move to Springfield when he was eleven, Concordia Lutheran Church and School provided support and first opportunities to enjoy being center stage. As Caesar in the school play, Jack’s prolonged dramatic death entertained the audience but not his art teacher! At Jefferson Middle school, he found fellow brilliant friends, who like Jack, were pranksters, David Beams and David “Sammy” David Myers. The “Triumvirate” were in the first graduating class of Southeast High School (1970), experiencing the race riots.

Following God’s calling to “take care of God’s sheep,” Jack went to LCMS Lutheran Colleges. The foundation for Jack’s stellar lifetime achievements began with his BA from Concordia College (1972), Ann Arbor Michigan; Fort Wayne, Indiana, (1973). He met many lifetime buddies including Hugh Fitz and Mike Mast. Surprisingly they learned their parent’s histories were connected.

Jack then went to the University of Illinois where fellow Lutheran, Dr Martin L. Maehr was his academic advisor. His degrees in psychology MA (1975) and PhD (1977) provided opportunities to help others through his focus on Achievement Motivation Theory, Cross-Cultural Generalizability and Statistical Modeling. He then served an internship and as consultant to the Chief Executive Office of the Mental Health Centers of Illinois (1976-1978) and served a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Institute for Human Development in Urbana (1978-1981).

In 1972 God’s hand was evident when his friend Gary Schumm set up a blind date with his fiancé Debbie’s nursing school classmate Paula (daughter of Charles and Juanita Pugh Peterson). On May 18, 1974, they were married at Antioch Church of Christ, Rossville, Illinois. Despite being told they could never have children, they had two, Angela M Picco Fyans-Jimenez, and Leslie J. Picco “JP” Fyans III (wife - Kristin Michelle Litviak), and four grandchildren: Natalya and Luciano Fyans- Jimenez and Jackson and Charles Fyans. Family was the greatest of blessings and joys of his life.

Dr Fyans was a consultant to the Illinois State Board of Education for over 10 years; served as Chief Psychological Consultant to the Veteran Center of Illinois for 36 years; consultant to Federal Disability Program of Illinois Department of Human Services 32 years. Jack conducted research and published over a hundred articles including topics on Achievement Motivation including the Globe Study (2004), coined the phrase “Test Anxiety” as part of study of Performance Impact of Anxiety on Standardized Exam, research design in development of ACTERS Scale to identify ADHD, co-researcher on effect of school size on student performance and many more. He also served as consultant to McBer Inc of Harvard University on Achievement Motivation, Rand Corporation on Generalizability Theory, US Department of Education on Factors of Student Progress and Achievement. He was awarded Concordia’s “Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Following his calling to “take care of God’s sheep,” Jack founded and operated Clinical Counseling in 1979. Doctor Jack’, aka “Doc”, greatest sadness was that his health no longer permitted him counsel those for whom he cared so much. Contributing to the health and growth of members, pastors and administrative leaders of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod was a priority for Jack. Just a few of these included serving as editor of the Family Counselor for The Lutheran Witness, weekly guest on KFUO Radio Lutheran Radio Network over 25 years , Concordia University Board of Regents, Advisory Commission for Concordia Health Plans, Member of Board of Directors for LCMS Central Illinois District 1984-1987, Advisor to Blue Ribbon Panel on Synodical Re-organization (1995-2003), development of “Healthy Pastor- Healthy Church book and DVD, multiple lectureships and Biblical Studies at various churches. He really loved giving chapel services for many years at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and School – especially getting the students so energized they could barely sit still in class afterwards.

Through Jack’s life God placed key people in his life to help him during both critical and celebratory times. Friends like Dr Bill Peterson, Dave Harshaw and family were Heaven sent - helping Jack battle Colo-rectal cancer and multiple illnesses. Jack’s love of life, good friends, and good wine along with his quick-witted humor made him the life of any party. Cherished friendships gained through church, school, youth soccer, the Italian American Society and Republican committees enriched Jack’s joy and ability to survive and thrive despite many health challenges.

Traveling with family was Jack’s favorite activity-especially to the west, meeting his Italian family in Italy with the Young family, and trips to France, England, New York, New Orleans, and many other US locations. Jack believed in supporting the community. He coached youth soccer and flag football, demonstrated pride in his Italian “Picco” lineage as an active member of Roman Cultural Society and was involved with multiple Republican committees and activities. Above all his academic and life accomplishments, Jack’s greatest source of pride and joy was his children and grandchildren. “Dad” and “Papa” were his favorite titles.

In lieu of plants or flowers, those who wish may direct memorial contributions to the following organizations in Jack’s honor:

• Honoring his brother, John Fyans and brother-in-law, Brian Peterson to Lincoln Land Down Syndrome Society at https://www.ildss.org/donate or Special Olympics Illinois at https://www.soill.org

• “Christ for you, Anytime, Anywhere” KFUO Radio at KFUO.org – donate

• Honoring Nurse Grandma Fyans, Mother Antoinette Fyans and wife Paula Fyans to Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan at www.cuaa.edu- donate to Ronald and Marvel Jones School of Nursing

Visitation will occur on Monday, June 19th at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church located at 2645 Old Jacksonville Road, Springfield IL 62704 from 4pm – 7pm. There will be a First Responder and Government Officials, on shift walk through that starts right at 3:45 pm. There will be another visitation on Tuesday, June 20th, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church from 9 am to 9:45am prior to the funeral service that will start at 10am. The service will be streamed on facebook live. Log into facebook and search Our Savior's Lutheran Church and School, Springfield, IL We will celebrate Jack’s life and Love of Christ during the service. Private burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL.