Vivian Marie Manfredi

1928 - 2022

Vivian Marie Manfredi
October 10, 1928 - February 27, 2022
Roseville, California - Vivian Marie Manfredi ("Vi") was 93 years old when she passed away on February 27, 2022 in Roseville after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She was born, Vivian Marie Taylor, in Flint Michigan and graduated high school from Flint Central High before moving to the Roseville area when she as 19 years old. She worked at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento where she met several of her lifelong friends. She met the love of her life, Dino Manfredi, a Roseville native, and they were married in 1956. In 1958, they welcomed their first child, Michael, into the world and in 1959 moved into a new home they designed and built on Carmel Avenue. Vi would remain in that home until the Alzheimer's forced her into an assisted living facility in 2019. It was the birth of her second child, Lorraine ("Lori") in 1960 that would change her life and galvanize her purpose. Lori was born with Down's Syndrome at a time when very few services were available for the developmentally disabled. For the next 30+ years, Vi and a committed group of likeminded parents, volunteers and community leaders worked to establish programs and services for people with developmental disabilities. In 1969, after relentless pressure from these groups, the State of California passed the landmark Lanterman Mental Retardation Act, which not only defined the rights of persons with developmental disabilities, but also established a statewide service system to meet their needs. Vi served on the Board of Directors of the Alta California Regional Center several times from 1976 until 1994. She also served on the Board of Directors of the ARC of Placer County. Through these organizations, Lori and thousands of others like her now enjoy programs and opportunities throughout their lifetimes. In recognition of her work, Vi was awarded Roseville's Citizen of the Year in 1983 and was honored that same year by the California State Senate for her years of service to the disabled community.
Vi is survived by her sister Virginia Riggins, her daughter Lori, son Michael and his wife Annie, her two grandchildren; Taylor, a San Francisco firefighter/paramedic; and Maddie, a registered nurse in Boston and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a celebration of Vi's life on Sunday, April 3rd from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Sierra View Country Club in Roseville. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate those who wish to make memorial donations to send them to ARC Studio 700, 700 Douglas Blvd, Roseville CA 95678.