Vivian Rose Stahl

Vivian Rose Stahl departed this life on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The day before Vivian's unexpected passing she spent reminiscing about her beloved mother on what would have been her mother's 95th birthday. Vivian, born 1955, grew up in Durham, North Carolina the daughter of two German immigrants who, along with their families, fled Nazi Germany. Family, history, and international relations were some of Vivian's passions. As a high school senior, she won the top prize in North Carolina for her high school speech on maritime international relations and ocean health. She then achieved a degree in International Relations from the American University. Her freshman year she met her future husband of 48 years, Bob Senseney, at a club fair. She had never been on a boat but chose to join the sailing team, and the rest is history. The two married in 1977 after her graduation and stayed in the DC area where she completed her masters in Library Science from the University of Maryland. Upon graduation she received awards for outstanding volunteer service and became a member of the International Library Science Honor Society. Bob and Vivian spent many years traveling and dedicated themselves to their careers before Vivian became the very proud and supportive mother to her own two children. Balancing her career and motherhood, Vivian pioneered the use of telework during her 43 years at the State Department as a reference librarian and specialist. She completed her tenure in the federal government with the Department of Veterans Affairs, assisting medical teams and administrators with quickly needed and authoritative information. The family settled in the suburbs of Montgomery County, Maryland where Vivian became an active member of her community and one of the longest-standing members of the Jewish Reform Congregation Or Chadash. She was looking forward to her grandson's upcoming preschool graduation and her daughter's wedding. Bob and Vivian enjoyed spending time at the beach, sailing, and kayaking. Those who know her best describe her as a lovely woman. Her family hopes in death she finds "sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care"- (Macbeth 2.2.47-49).

Vivian was preceded in death by her mother Helen Rosenwald Stahl, father Gerald M. Stahl and her brother Peter Stahl. She is survived by her husband Bob Senseney, son Justin Stahl Senseney, grandson Isaac Senseney, and Isaac's mom Ling Chow, of Maryland; Vivian's daughter Leah Stahl Senseney and her fiance Jared M. Calhoun of New Jersey; her sister-in-law Susan Simmons-Stahl of Connecticut and nephews Cory Stahl, also of Connecticut, and Jesse Stahl of northern Thailand.

For those who wish to make a donation in her memory, the family suggests making a donation to your local public library, to her local public library: The Montgomery County Public Library (Quince Orchard Branch) or to the General Fund of Congregation Or Chadash and specify that you would like the donation to be put toward the library. Links are provided below. Vivian's service was held at the Garden of Remembrance: 14321 Comus Rd. Clarksburg, MD 20871 on May 23, 2025.

The Montgomery County Public Libraries: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E342351&id=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEweGpBZWQ4aDFoNmdJTktqOAEez5HmmBGhfL-87G43fpz-dbPDLDK-oQquYJRjDwwt-BgIUbuzWaGrx6aQ-H0_aem_9OqU3Ayn7wELprlrTlv0Sg

Congregation Or Chadash: https://cong-orchadashmd.org/support-us-3/