Vivian Toan

Vivian began visiting Ouray in the early 1970’s to visit her mother and father -in- law, Edith and Winthrop Toan. She continued to spend parts of summer and winter vacations in Ouray, as she and her husband raised four children. Ouray was a very important part of the childrens’ lives, as they perfected their tree house in the front yard, sledded on the Camp Bird Road, held secret club house meetings with their local friends, and hiked and camped with their parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. After Vivian retired in 2009, she spent increasing amounts of time in Ouray, and moved here full time in 2020.

Vivian spent her early childhood years in the Appalachian mountains, and then in several Iowa communities. She attended Grinnell College and NYU Law School, and remained in New York for the next 50 years.

Her first six years, as a young attorney, were with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, with great deal of time in the southern states, litigating on behalf of workers. After a break of a few years with her young family, she became a lawyer for the New York City Department of Health, and was Counsel to its Division of Health Care Access and Improvement. Ouray has benefitted from a strong and vibrant volunteer community. The preservation of the Wright Opera House, and its wide range of programming are a testament to the efforts of so many, and Vivian is delighted to join the Board, and assist with their endeavors.