Vivienne Ashcroft Exelrod

1939 - 2024

Vivienne Ashcroft Exelrod
03/17/1939 - 08/05/2024
Vivienne was born in England in the county of Lancashire. Her birth coincided with the beginning of World War II. The war affected her in many ways. She had to have a gas mask available to her much of the time. When the bombing was taking place, Vivienne was taken to the shelters for protection. Her family life was upended. Vivienne had a very close relationship with her grandmother who inculcated in her a love of England and English culture.
Vivienne spent much of her teenage years in London and developed enduring friendships with many people. One of those friends was Charles Gray who she later married. They emigrated to San Francisco in 1962. Jonathan was born later that year.
Vivienne was an extraordinarily talented employee at a variety of San Francisco companies. At the Bank of Montreal, she wrote procedures for others to follow. Throughout her life in homemaking and outside the home she applied those procedures to ensure that everything around her was well organized and efficient.
Following the end of her marriage, she met the love of her life, Alan Exelrod. They were married for 50 years and together they grew their family to include Jonathan, Robert, Hilary and Meredith. They loved to travel together and had many great adventures in England and France. Mexico was their favorite vacation place and they spent many relaxing days at Punta Mita.
Vivienne was an extraordinary wife, mother and grandmother. She was beautiful and had the ability to light up a room. Her sense of humor was very English and until the very end she was cracking jokes with her English accent that made all laugh. Vivienne had a quiet elegance that was reflected in her clothing style and in the beauty in the décor she created for the family.
A passion of Vivienne throughout her life was cooking. When they first married, Vivienne cooked Alan virtually every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook from her television show. The meals were creative and extraordinary. As the children grew older, Vivienne made sure that a proper, tasty meal was prepared and we all sat
down together almost every day until they went off to college. Vivienne threw many beautiful dinner parties for friends as well. Her Christmas dinners were extraordinary both in the food she prepared and in its presentation.
Later in life Vivienne found horse back riding. She spent many happy hours at Miwok Stables in Marin galloping over the headlands and taking care of her horses, Excalibur and Landon.
Vivienne loved her children deeply and was an example to them of generosity and fortitude. She always had their back and allowed them the freedom to follow their own passions. Her grandchildren were a delight and she enjoyed immensely happy times in her Napa home.
Vivienne is survived by Alan, Jonathan, Robert, Hilary (Greg), Meredith (Jeff); and her grandchildren, Josephine, Noemi and Loren Concepcion. She is also survived by Adrienne Martin, her sister and Peter Laskier her brother. M Vivienne will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Vivienne was a supporter of St. Jude Children's hospital and the San Francisco SPCA.