Vivian Elaine (Grady) Albertson was born April 14, 1927 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Albert Grady and Ethel (Blessing) Grady. She passed away peacefully from natural causes at home in Seattle on October 5, 2017, surrounded by her nine children.

Viv was raised in a happy home in Port Washington, Wisconsin, alongside brothers Gerald, Warren, Marvin, Stuart, and Albert, and sister Beverly (Finholt). She received her BA in English from Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin in 1949, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and Mortar Board.

After college, she boarded RMS Queen Mary to pursue graduate studies at the University of London, and later taught 7th grade English in Wisconsin. A job with the YWCA took her to Hollywood, California and then Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Roy Albertson, a former professional baseball player then serving in the US Army. They were married April 18, 1953, and began their life together in El Paso, Texas, near Roy’s duty station at White Sands Proving Ground. Moves to Buffalo, New York; Prescott and Scottsdale, Arizona; and Spokane and Bellevue, Washington followed, as did the births of three daughters and six sons.

As Viv’s family grew, she became a sound advocate for public education and an active parent volunteer. Public schools in each community benefited from her leadership in improving outcomes for students and supporting the work of classroom teachers. She was elected to two terms on the Bellevue School District board of directors, serving from 1981 to 1989, including a turn as its president.

Viv approached others with dignity, humor and a belief that everyone has a contribution to make. Her calls and letters to the offices of local and national elected officials on issues of the day were succinct, effective, and memorable for their recipients. She was a longtime Mariners fan, yet was more than willing to hold the club’s managers accountable for unwise pitching changes or smoking in the dugout. Her wit, intelligence, and enthusiasm won the love of her many friends, but her most profound legacy is a close and loving family.

Viv was preceded in death by Roy, her husband of 59 years, in 2011. She is survived by her children: Charles, Barbara, Julie, Susan (Brad) Marten, John (Mary), Tom (Elizabeth), Steve (Monica Spain), Dan (Susan) and Jeff (Benjamin Vogt); as well as fourteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, her brothers Marvin and Warren (Phyllis), and brother-in-law James Finholt.

A private burial was held October 14, 2017 at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle. A public celebration of Viv’s life will take place Sunday, November 12, at 1:00pm, at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street in Seattle.

Remembrances may be made in Viv's name to the public school of your choice. The family wishes to thank the caregivers and hospice nurses who helped Viv meet her important goal of spending her final days at home.