Phyllis Altman Laviano, 99, most recently residing in Raleigh, NC died on June 19, 2024, at the Rosewood of The Cypress of Raleigh in Raleigh, NC. She formerly was a long-time resident of Albemarle County, Virginia (in Cismont and Earlysville) and prior to that in Fairfield County, Connecticut (in Danbury and Newtown).

Born February 13, 1925 in New York City, she was the daughter of Frank (Efroim) Altman and Dorothy Gamsu Altman. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Harvey Altman, E. Bangor, PA and her husband, the late Trent Laviano, M.D., Earlysville, VA, and her faithful friend of almost eight decades, Mrs. Elaine Freinberg, of Maplewood, NJ.

Phyllis was a graduate of Hunter College in New York and a former employee of the University of Virginia. She was a proactive advocate and volunteer for adult literacy programs, including those sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She also served as a docent at museums and art galleries, including the Bayly (now the Fralin) in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Phyllis is survived by her son, U.S. Army (Retired) Major Trent D. Laviano, Esq. of Knoxville, Tennessee; her daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Linda Laviano Gardner and Richard Gardner of Raleigh, NC; her grandchildren: Dr. Jared Gardner of Greensboro, NC; Dr. Darci Gardner of Boone, NC, and Dr. Jacob Gardner and his wife Katharine Thomas Gardner of Wallingford, PA., and her great-grandson Alexander Thomas Gardner.

A special thank you to Nicole Hunn, Connie Mattison, and other friends and staff at the Rosewood of The Cypress of Raleigh for their care and attention.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to AAUW to support education and training for women, via the following link: https://ww2.aauw.org/donate-gift-new/.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.