Shirley Gaver Viviano

Shirley Eve (Gaver) Viviano, 81, of Frederick, MD and formerly Baltimore, MD, passed away on June 26, 2017 at Homewood at Crumland Farms. She was the wife of the late Joseph Viviano.

Born on July 23, 1935 in Frederick, she was the daughter of the late William Martin Luther Gaver and Mary Frances (Slifer) Gaver. Shirley was a member of Evangelical Lutheran Church. She enjoyed Classical music and going out to dinner with her friends.

In August of 1957, Shirley joined the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, as a pre-professional librarian before going on to complete her training. She returned to the library in June of 1959 as a professional librarian. Shirley joined the Fine Arts Department working alongside James Dickson and Joe Viviano. Shirley went on to marry Joe and continued to advance her career and moved to the George Peabody Library, working with rare and specialized materials.

Shirley returned to the Central Library July 10, 1966 working with Marion Bell in the Library’s General Information Department. Shirley advanced to become the Assistant Department Head and was in-charge of the Library’s nationally recognized telephone reference service. In 1986 she became the head of the department. She worked with staff to introduce late night, after hours telephone reference services to the Library’s customers statewide with a specialized staff and toll-free number for Maryland residents. Shirley returned to the Fine Arts Department as Department Head where she worked until her retirement. During this time, Shirley actively engaged the public, encouraging interest and enthusiasm in art and music, supporting what was to become the interest in antiques and collectibles that spawned the Antiques Roadshow. Shirley brought the Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps to the Library for a public program aimed at interesting young adults in swimming and other sports.

Shirley will be dearly missed by her sister, Mary Frances (Gaver) Trunk and husband Charles, as well as, many cousins.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 7, 2017 at 10 am, at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, located behind the church, at 107 W. Main St., Middletown, MD 21769. The Reverend Douglas Jones will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Evangelical Lutheran Church Organ Fund, 35 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701.

Arrangements are by Keeney & Basford Funeral Home. Please share condolences with the family at www.keeneybasford.com