Virginia was born in Middletown, N.Y. in 1925 to farming parents who firmly believed in the education of women. The youngest of four girls, all were instilled with the desire to succeed and excel in their respective fields.
Virginia chose a career of service – first by graduating from the School of Nursing at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City in 1946, and then even keeping her New York State nursing license active until her passing.
Marrying Tony (Anthony Cipriano) marked the start of a 62-year relationship of love and devotion to one another, which would then see them have a daughter Mary Ann, travel the world and move to Canada.
A woman of achievement, even as a young mother, Virginia went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, Cum Laude, at Hunter College in New York City. When offered a full scholarship to do a Masters in physics at NYU, she chose a Master of Science in Nursing instead. Her thesis research on public health took her to some of the poorest and most dangerous neighbourhoods in New York City.
In Canada, when she started to teach nursing at the Royal Victoria Hospital, she realized nursing education needed to evolve and was part of the development of the CEGEP nursing curriculum, first at Dawson then at Vanier until her retirement.
As part of a group of women at the University Women’s Club of Montreal, she, along with Ms. Monk, Dr. Ellis and others strove for women’s rights and visibility on corporate boards, even buying shares in companies to participate in the annual meetings. When confronted with an inequity such as a woman needing the permission of her husband to obtain a credit card, their favourite saying was “That’s got to change!” Virginia was President of the University Women’s Club for several years.
Virginia instilled the same desire for knowledge in her daughter, Mary Ann, son-in-law Ralph, and her grandchildren Lisa and Paul. Virginia and Tony relished every moment with Lisa and Paul, whether it was painting at the easel, making pizza, going to parades, the theatre or museums, or just indulging them in designer clothes and unusual toys. Virginia also instilled in them the wonders of her beloved Block Island.
After a long, rich, and often exciting life, Virginia passed away peacefully at the age of 97. In her final years, she received loving care from Dr. Dawang and those equally devoted to service at the Chateau Westmount to whom we are grateful.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Virginia Cipriano to:
http://secure.jghfoundation.org/goto/Virginia_Cipriano
The donations will support Hope & Cope, Montreal, a non-profit organization who for decades has supported cancer patients, survivors and their families through a variety of activities and services at no cost.

Watercolour by her husband Anthony (Tony) Cipriano