By Doug Berg
Last March 14th Min-School lost a good friend, Viv Coit, of Jackson, New Hampshire. Viv was 93. Her husband, Les, passed away in September, 1994, at the age of 89.
Mini-School and I first met Les and Viv in Quetico Provincial Park on a canoe trip in 1980. This fortuitous meeting led to a wonderful relationship. These people of another generation completely understood and endorsed Mini-School’s mission and philosophy and embraced its students. They hosted several Mini-School trips at their New Hampshire home, took us once on an expedition to New Brunswick, and showed us the New England country side and New England ways. Viv reached out to the kids, cooked for them, made them feel comfortable and at home. She got to know, besides me, Mini-School staff members Randy, Lester, Mini-School alumnus Jim Jensen, and some Outward Bound friends of mine, Ray Britton and Pam Ahlen.
My wife and I last visited Les and Viv in the summer of 1993. Early in our visit, Les took us aside and told us Viv wasn’t very strong and he was concerned about her. Two hours later she was cooking up a big chicken dinner and she stayed up past midnight visiting with us. The next morning she was up before we were cooking breakfast. She didn’t look weak to us!
Viv was a canoeist, a hiker, a skier, an expert outdoors woman, a superb cook, both in her kitchen and over the campfire. She was highly involved in wilderness and athletic activities long before these things were considered “proper” for women, and she continued to participate in them until the age when most folks give them up.
Viv’s birthday was June 21st, the summer solstice. I used to tease her about having more sunlight in her life than anyone else. She did, she deserved it, and she spread it around to all of us.
Viv is gone. We are all sorry and sad. All of Mini-School extends their sympathy to her family.