Paul Michel Lion III, a long time summer resident in Oak Bluffs, died at his home early in the morning of Nov. 3 in Gainesville, Va. He was 89.

Mike, as he was known to all, was born in Washington, DC, the only child of Paul Michel Lion Jr. (USNA 1925) and Louise Chandler Lion.

He attended the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, through sixth grade. He graduated from White Plains High School, N.Y. in 1952, competing for and won a Presidential appointment to West Point.

At West Point, Mike finished 12 of 480 on the Order of Merit List. He was active in the debate council and forum, the Russian club, and as a member of the magazine, the Pointer.

Upon graduating from West Point in 1956, he married his beloved Jane Sanford of Mount Vernon, N.Y. After training at Ft. Belvoir, Mike and Jane moved to Germany where they began their family of four sons: David, James, Thomas and William.

Upon returning to the U.S., Mike and Jane settled in Princeton N.J., where he entered graduate school at Princeton University. He achieved a master of sciences in Aeronautical Engineering, a master of mechanical sciences degree and a PhD in AE by 1965.

In 1966, he was named assistant professor of Aerospace Engineering, focusing on optimization theory and stability theory while also serving as principal investigator for a NASA contract on optimum space trajectories. In 1970 he advanced to associate professor, then in 1974 to full professor of civil engineering.

In 1972, he developed the concept of a graduate program in transportation, to be jointly supported by the schools of Engineering and Applied Science, Public and International Affairs, and Architecture and Urban Planning.

Having board of trustees approval, he obtained start-up funding from the Ford Foundation. The Transportation Program accepted its first graduate students in the fall of 1972. The program continues as one of the University’s most respected interdisciplinary programs. Upon his handing over the reins of the program, several of his students created a scholarship fund in his honor.

Mike left the University in 1979, relocating to Washington DC, where he applied his knowledge to help improve efficiencies in the National Railway and the US Post Office. He retired in 1999 as vice president of Washington Operations for ALK Associates, a firm producing software for the transportation industry,

During their Washington years Mike and Jane lived in McLean, Va. They also summered in Oak Bluffs for 65 years. They moved to a senior-focused community in Gainesville in 2005. Mike’s friendships from West Point were precious to him and Jane, remaining close throughout their lives.

Mike enjoyed a perfect Manhattan, rooting for his Redskins, the Yankees, the Princeton Tigers and especially, his alma mater. “Go Army!” was a common call on fall weekends in the Lion’s den.

Mike launched hundreds of students on their careers, teaching them to use what he taught to define and solve the problems in transportation, logistics and other applications of operations research. He was an avid reader, an expert trivia player, never losing in Trivial Pursuit.

But more than that, he was a friendly, funny, charming man who took serious interest in others. He was a champion of puns and of “Dad jokes”. For his sons, he acted as an Indian guide chieftain, their Little League baseball coach and a vocal advocate for their academic and athletic endeavors. His grandchildren called him Pops.

Mike was predeceased by his son, William. He will be deeply mourned by his wife of 68-plus years, Jane, and three sons, David, James (Aisha), and Thomas (Cynthia); a granddaughter, Alexa (Andrew); and a great-granddaughter due in December; a grandson, Nicolas, and many cousins and their families.

Services were held on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Greenwich Presbyterian Church in Nokesville, Va.

Memorial contributions may be made to The P. M. Lion Senior Thesis Fund at Princeton University by contacting Jane Maggard, associate dean, Development School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Princeton, NJ. 08540, or to the Generation to Generation Fund of the Greenwich Presbyterian Church, 15305 Vint Hill Road, Nokesville, VA. 20181.