Obituary: Vivian Young Sheehan, Former Sag Harbor School Board Member, Dies at 86

Info via Defriest-Grattan Funeral Home

Died: Saturday, May 30

Visitation: The family will receive visitors Thursday June 11, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Defriest-Grattan Funeral Home on 51400 Route 25 in Southold.

Services: Funeral service will be held on Friday, June 12, starting at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes R. C. Church on 523 Front Street in Greenport.

Obituary: Vivian Young Sheehan, of Greenport, died on Saturday, May 30, in her home in Peconic Landing. She was 86.

She attended Sacred Heart Academy in Sag Harbor and graduated from Marymount School and Marymount Manhattan College.

She was the only child of an Irish immigrant builder and a New York career teacher.

In 1951, Vivian married the late John P. Sheehan.

She taught generations of grade school students in the Philadelphia area through the “Art Goes to School Program” of Philadelphia Museum of Art.

She also served as a docent at Parish Art Museum in Southampton, was active in organizing exhibits and trips for the art committee at Peconic Landing, and taught many popular art appreciation classes for fellow residents of Peconic Landing.

Vivian and her husband raised seven children, and lived in 12 cities and six states during their 52-year marriage.

In 1982, Vivian retired and the couple returned to Sag Harbor for 20 years, where she was elected to Sag Harbor Union Free School District school board.

On the school board, she was known for her insistence on her close scrutiny of budgets and the need for good stewardship and accountability for the education of Sag Harbor’s students.

She also served on the board of the Friends of John Jermain Library.

Vivian was the inspiration for an oral history project called Voices of Sag Harbor, which was edited by Nina Tobier, and helped put together lists of longtime village residents with Kathy Miller for interviews.

Vivian is survived by her children, James G.(Cathy) Sheehan of Cohoes, N.Y., Barbara A. Sheehan of Philadelphia, Pa., Maureen E. Sheehan of Greenwich, Conn., Timothy J. Sheehan of Austin, Texas, Brendan P.(Barbara) Sheehan of Leavenworth, Kan., Robert Y. Sheehan of Austin, TX and Andrew B. Sheehan of Cedar Park, Texas, as well as 13 grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren. A grandson, Joseph P. Sheehan, preceded her in death.

Vivian’s family asks that gifts in her memory be directed to East End Hospice and Community Action Southold Town (CAST).

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