News

Friends remember Stephen Vieira, golf, buttery rolls

By Bill Moss, Published: June 29, 2014

Friends and family remembered Stephen Vieira for his service to his country and for his love for family, cooking, golf, buttery rolls and ice cream.

Vieira died on Friday, June 20, at age 65, at Clare Bridge, an Alzheimer's treatment center in Asheville. His wife, Mary Thomas Vieira, and his children spent the last years visiting Stephen at the home, where he received excellent care. The light dimmed in a bright and quick mind slowly but with distressing episodes.
"Like he'd leave his car at the Enmark and walk home," Mary said. "Only in Hendersonville would it still be there three days later, with the hose still in the tank."
Born in Providence, R.I., to Edwin and Mary Rosa Vieira, Stephen completed his undergraduate degree at Wabash College, earned an MBA from the University of Rhode Island and a law degree from Wake Forest University. Drafted into the Army during Vietnam, he served later as well during Operation Desert Storm as a Naval Reservist attorney at the Pentagon with the Judge Advocate General's Corps. (Mourners sang the Navy hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save.") He worked as a lawyer in private law in Richmond, Va., until 1992.
Stephen and Mary VieiraHe was known as a loving father, although not the disciplinarian of the family. Once, when he heard a noise in the kitchen, he walked downstairs to find daughter Weezie eating ice cream. "So he sat down and joined her," said the Rev. Allen Smith, who preached a celebration of life on Thursday morning in the backyard of Margaret Thomas, next door to the Vieira house on Fourth Avenue West. "He was known to have nine or 10 scoops."
He is survived by Mary Thomas Vieira, his wife of 35 years and the daughter of Margaret and the late Bo Thomas; a son, Alex Vieira of Asheville; daughters Weesie Vieira of New York City and Margaret Vieira of Los Angeles; Dr. Edwin Vieira Jr. and his wife, Anne Mary of Front Royale, Va., and Dr. Jeffrey Vieira and his wife Regina Hawkey of New York, N.Y.; a sister, the former NBC Today Show anchor and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" host Meredith Vieira, and her husband, Richard Cohen of New York, N.Y., and nieces and nephews. The news personality, who attended the service, has reported feature stories on Alzheimer's disease, a topic she knew intimately because of Stephen.
Bill Pearce, as avid a golfer as Vieira, recalled the first time he spotted Vieira on the course at the Hendersonville Country Club. Vieira was playing alone and Pearce waved him ahead to join the group. Pearce heard a sharp "thwack" and the golf ball sailed over his ahead. Another golfing friend, Grant "Whit" Whitney, recalled Vieira thoughtfulness.
"He knew I liked the British Open so he bought me British Open socks," he said. Vieira's hole-in-one on the 11th hole of the club occasioned a celebration remembered by all.
"He was," the Rev. Smith said, "as many here will attest, fond of wisdom and knowledge — it has been claimed that he knew everything. How useful the knowledge was up for debate, but we shall leave that to greater minds."
His grasp of memory was what Alzheimer's had taken from him, starting before he was 50 years old. His wife and children and siblings visited, talked, searched for a glimmer of recognition. Some things stuck fast.
"Even at the very end, in the confusion, he always knew that he hated the Yankees," Smith said. A lifelong Red Sox and New England Patriots fan, Vieira also loved to cook like the French, with a rich and buttery flair.

Whit Whitney told the congregants he imagined that his friend was with them all in spirit but would soon have to excuse himself for a busy day.

"He has an early tee time with Ben Hogan," Whitney said, "and a cooking class with Julia Child."

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshpeherd.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that gifts may be made to the Continuing Congregation of First Presbyterian Church, c/o Office of Sally Massagee, CPA 714 Oakland Street Hendersonville, N.C. 28791.