Senior Star Vivian Weil

Vivian Weil is a 2010 Senior Star.

Nominated by Isabel Yates and Charles R. Hembree, longtime friends, and Dr. Randall G. Rowland, president and CEO of the Markey Cancer Foundation, Weil is described as sincere, gentle and kindhearted. Others describe her as passionate and dedicated. The Markey Cancer Foundation describes her as "a lady of southern grace and charm, and a loving soul with great compassion."

Born in Lexington, Weil is a UK graduate and received a master's degree in merchandising from Simmons College of Boston. She married the love of her life, David Weil, in 1940 and they had two children. Her professional career includes being a ready-to-wear retail buyer for Welgo Department Store, and she later owned and operated an art gallery.

Her service to the Markey Cancer Foundation began more than three decades ago. In 2007, Weil received the foundation's Outstanding Philanthropist Award.

In honoring Weil it was stated: "Her wisdom and quiet leadership have been instrumental in guiding the foundation's growth from brick and mortar to today's development of new cancer fighting drugs. Vivian's community service, however, isn't exclusive to the foundation. She has served Lexington her entire life. A small sampling of her work includes helping to open the first Manchester Street Library and Arts Place. Additionally, she is serving or has served on the board of the UK Library Associates, the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Foundation, the Lexington Philharmonic, the Headley-Whitley Museum, and the list goes on and on.