Vivienne Silver

Silver, Vivienne R.
Vivienne Robinson Silver, 74, a resident of Stamford, CT, passed away on April 24, 2015 after a 25 year battle with lung cancer. She was born on January 20, 1941 in Port Chester, NY to the late Vivienne Rivière Robinson and H. Douglas Robinson and was raised and educated in South Salem, NY.
She received her Master of Arts in French Literature and Theatre from Middlebury College and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. Early in her career, Vivienne taught advanced placement French and English at Wilton High School and Fairfield High School. Later, she had various roles in development and fund raising at non-profit organizations throughout Fairfield county for many years. Her passion was her love of helping underserved women and children, which led her to sit on the board of Inspirica formerly known as St. Luke's LifeWorks - Bread & Roses. Most recently, Vivienne was an advocate for continuing children's education. She and her husband Richard established a scholarship fund that allows underprivileged children to attend the Bartlett Arboretum's summer day camp, a program designed to teach children about nature and the environment. As part of this program, Vivienne and Richard also participated in funding and building the Silver Education Center to ensure the children of Stamford could continue their education throughout the year at the Bartlett Arboretum. Prior to her time in the non-profit world, she sat on the board for the Governor's Residence Conservancy during the Weicker administration for the State of Connecticut.
She enjoyed spending her summers in Prince Edward Island, Canada and her winters in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I, where she and her husband created their own loving communities of friends. In St. Thomas they were active in the historic St. Thomas synagogue and the St. Thomas Community Foundation.
She loved to travel and enjoyed seeing different countries and cultures. She also loved opera and was a patron of the arts; a lover of literature.
Vivienne exuded tenderness, respect, loyalty and courage. She was the matriarch of the family; a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt and most importantly, grandmother. Her favorite time of the year was Thanksgiving when she would host the holiday annually and share her love and devotion with her family.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard Silver; her daughter Lisa Silver Oirich and her husband Alan Oirich, her son Grant Douglas Silver and his wife Lisa Moses Silver; and four grandchildren, Mordechai, Nosson, Jacob and Lily; her brother James Robinson; her sister-in-law Susan Silver; her nephew, Jeffrey Robinson and his wife Barbara; two nieces, Jody Robinson Bare and her husband Lloyd and Jennifer Robinson Stephens and her husband Brian. She also leaves behind her great nieces Molly Beattie and Emily Stephens and her great nephew Jackson Stephens.
A memorial service will be held on April 27, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Sinai in Stamford, CT. The family will be sitting Shiva at the family home on Monday April 27 from 6-8 p.m.; Tuesday, April 28, from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday, April 29 from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Silver Educational Center for the Children's Educational Program at the Stamford Bartlett Arboretum or Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County.
Further information can be obtained form the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home at (203) 327-1313.