Who Is Your Hero?

Do you have a personal hero? Tell us about them. It doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Your Everyday Hero: Vivian R.

My hero, Vivian R., died last July of breast cancer. An older African American woman who never married or had any children, she devoted her life to helping others. I was fortunate enough to have known her for the past 30 years. Since she hired me as young 20 something year old working in the aging field. We came from different backgrounds and were as different as night and day, but we bonded from day one. Vivian taught me the beauty of silence, of listening, of acceptance and tolerance of others different than ourselves. She was a quiet leader who surrounded herself with others different than her. Her passion was human services, and helping others, especially the elderly. Vivian started me on the wonderful journey that I now call my career. She has taken me in for the past three decades. Her fight against breast cancer was not successful, but her spirit will always remain inside of me.

Story was submitted anonymously