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She was born Jan. 20, 1941, in Port Chester, N.Y., to the late Vivienne Rivière Robinson and H. Douglas Robinson and was raised and educated in South Salem, N.Y. She received her Master of Arts degree in French literature and theater from Middlebury College and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. Early in her career, she taught advanced placement French and English at Wilton High School and Fairfield High School. Later, she had various roles in development and fundraising at nonprofit organizations throughout Fairfield County for many years. Her passion was her love of helping underserved women and children, which led her to serve on the board of Inspirica, formerly known as St. Luke's LifeWorks - Bread & Roses.
Most recently, she 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, she 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 nonprofit world, she sat on the board for the Connecticut Governor's Residence Conservancy during the Weicker administration. She enjoyed spending her summers in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and her winters in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 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 and a lover of literature.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard; her daughter, Lisa Silver Oirich and her husband, Alan Oirich; her son, Grant Douglas Silver and his wife, Lisa Moses Silver; four grandchildren; a brother; a sister-in-law; a nephew; two nieces; two great-nieces; and a great-nephew.
The family will be sitting shiva at the family home Monday, April 27, from 6-8 p.m.; Tuesday, April 28, from 3-5 and 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday, April 29, from 3-5 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.
For more information, visit the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home here.
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