Vivian Wik Nicolet
An autobiographical sketch submitted for our 40th Reunion in 1995
This is a time when it would be much more fun to be artistic
or clever with words, but…
I went to Stanford with about 20 of our classmates. Finished
there in 1959 and blew my life savings on a three-month trip to Europe. Came
back, moved to San Francisco with friends and worked there until children
were born. Married Bill in 1962 (a CAL and UCLA person).
We moved to Redwood City in 1964 and have stayed there. Lori
and Brad (twins) were born there in 1964 and Jill in 1974. We still have Jill
in college. Brad is married and living in Davis. Lori moved to Burlingame
last December and is thoroughly enjoying it. We have no grandchildren at this
time.
I worked for a few years with Bill when he had his own engineering
research firm which has now been dissolved. Bill manages investment properties
and his computer.
I have a great part-time job which is quite flexible in the
Career Center at Woodside High School. I coordinate our AP testing, do Senior
Proficiency testing, and produce our sophomores’ Career Passports (a
resume program).
This means I have time for tennis, aerobics, traveling, and
anything else which strikes our fancy – a certainly good life!
Update June 2005
We now have two granddaughters - Chloe (6) and Bailee (3) -Brad's children. Lori still lives in Burlingame and works in S.F. After college, Jill did not return to California. She is a middle-school science teacher and has bought a house in Portland.
I am still at Woodside High, doing the AP testing and helping
with the STAR test, exit exams, and language placement tests. I gave up tennis
when I broke my ankle in 1999. Was going to try it a couple of years later
but have been dealing with health issues. We still travel and keep busy.
After a long and brave battle with cancer, Vivian died peacefully in the comfort of her own home. She is survived by her husband Bill, son Brad, daughters Lori and Jill, daughter in law Delinda, son in law Lenny, granddaughters Chloe and Bailee, cousins Laurie Lynch (& husband Bob), and Linda Thompson (& husband Charlie). Vivian was an avid bridge player, tennis player, traveler, charity volunteer and sports fan who loved to be around people and had an extensive network of friends.
Vivian's parents, Nils and Astrid Wik, immigrated from Sweden to the San Francisco Bay Area as young adults, married and gave birth to their only child in Mills Hospital in San Mateo. Vivian grew up in Burlingame and graduated from Burlingame High School. She continued onto Stanford, where she graduated with a degree in Economics. Many of her friends from Stanford are still close friends to this day. Some of her good friends from this era lead to meeting her future husband Bill.
Vivian met and married Bill Nicolet while working her first job out of school. During their marriage of 44 years, they became the proud parents of twins, Brad & Lori and of their youngest daughter, Jill. Vivian's career pursuits throughout the years included jobs at Kern County Land Company, Stanford, Woodside High School and managing income properties in Burlingame.
Vivian loved to coordinate family activities as well as entertain family and friends. Thanks to good medical care and her strong will, she was delighted to attend her daughter Jill's wedding to Lenny Self in early July of this year. Family and friends came from near and far to Portland, OR to spend a weekend celebrating both Jill and Lenny's union and Vivian's determined presence.
A memorial honoring Vivian's life will be this Friday, Sept. 8 at 1:00 at Peninsula Covenant Church, 3560 Farm Hill Blvd, RWC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society. 1-800-ACS-2345, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. www.cancer.org.