American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology

It seems altogether fitting that the first entry into what will be a permanent record of members of the Academy who have passed away should be Vivian Sheehan. She was not either a founding nor a charter member but she was one of the early members of AAPPSPA. At the time that she brought me into the organization, it was totally different than it is today. Board meetings were open only to Board members and they lasted from dinner time until well after midnight. Vivian was a Board Member for many years and served as Secretary as well as always making a point of going around to speak with every person who attended a Spring Conference, especially for the first time. She spent countless hours at the Academy booth at every ASHA conference, even when getting around was very difficult for her. She was continuously recruiting new members from every contact she made with any potential member. She contributed to the initial fund to support the setting up of the Academy website and list serve. Her professional contributions to our profession are legendary, including the initial in-hospital program for TBI patients in WW II, work with aphasics and the stuttering clinic.

She was a Life Member of the Academy, received its Honors, the Frank R. Kleffner Clinical Career Award, was a Fellow of ASHA and received countless other awards.

- Barbara Samuels