Vivian Bliss Distler

Vivian was born in Montreal, Canada in 1965 and took great pride in both her Canadian and Jewish heritage. She moved to Palo Alto, CA in 1996 and became an active member of the Jewish community. She served on the board of the Palo Alto JCC, overseeing the construction of the new Oshman Family Jewish Community Center. She also served on the board of the Kehillah Jewish High School, and the Jewish Community Federation South Peninsula Council. She chaired the 2007 To Life! Jewish Cultural Street Festival and was a board member of New Bridges to Jewish Community. She trained in emergency preparedness and ran marathons and triathlons, to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society "Team in Training" program.

Vivian graduated from Boston University with a BS in broadcasting and film and a BA in history in 1987. She earned a JD from UC Berkeley School of Law in 1994, where she was managing editor of the California Law Review. She was a law clerk at the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada. Her early career was in Television production, first in New York, and then in Los Angeles. Later, she practiced Law at Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto. In 2007, she joined the Institute for the Future and became Director of Research and Collaborative Networks for the Health Horizons Program.

Always accompanied by her cherished canine companions, Vivian shared her love for them with everyone. Her keen intelligence, compassion, wisdom, loyalty and generous nature were evident in all she did. We remember her irreverent sense of humor and wonderful, hearty laugh. Vivian adored children but doted on her niece and nephew in particular, dedicating herself to being their "subversive aunt". Vivian overcame many adversities in her life, including breast cancer in 2005. But, even in the darkest moments, her generosity and humor shone through.

Vivian is survived by her brother Jacques Distler; sister-in-law Suzanne Fremont; beloved niece and nephew, Lauren and Avi; her many friends; and her dog, Buddy.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday December 12, at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park, Agudas Achim Section.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Vivian's memory may be sent to:

http://www.lls.org/">Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, http://www.teamintraining.org/">Leukemia and Lymphoma Team in Training or the http://www.paloaltojcc.org/">Oshman Family Palo Alto Jewish Community Center.