Vivian Conly, 76, of Wilmington, NC, passed away peacefully on Aug. 30, 2026. She was born Oct. 24, 1949, in Chester, PA, to Hobart and Nancy Swan.
Vivian was deeply curious about the world around her, with a creative spirit and an energy that carried through every chapter of her life. Vivian’s most significant professional legacy was her tenure as executive director of Carnegie Hall. She took leadership of a struggling institution in a deteriorating historic building and, with the support of many in the community, helped transform it into a thriving center for arts and culture.
She led fundraising for the restoration of the building while expanding Carnegie’s programming and its place in the cultural life of Lewisburg and the wider region.
Vivian’s most significant professional legacy was her tenure as executive director of Carnegie Hall. She took leadership of a struggling institution in a deteriorating historic building and, with the support of many in the community, helped transform it into a thriving center for arts and culture. She led fundraising for the restoration of the building while expanding Carnegie’s programming and its place in the cultural life of Lewisburg and the wider region.
Her connection to the Greenbrier Valley extended beyond Carnegie Hall. Vivian spent many years at The Greenbrier working in sales, conference services, and community relations. She also served on the Lewisburg City Council and was active in civic and political causes throughout her years in the area.
Art was a constant in Vivian’s life. She created mosaics, painted and decorated wooden bowls and furniture, and was always experimenting with something new. She had a lifelong appreciation for music and the arts and shared that enthusiasm freely with her family and friends.
In retirement, Vivian traveled extensively and continued to seek out new places and experiences. She lived for periods in California and Sunset Beach, NC, before ultimately making her home again in Wilmington. She built friendships across the country while maintaining many that began during her years in Lewisburg.
Vivian had a quick wit, a beautiful smile, strong opinions, and an unmistakable personality. She loved her family and took particular joy in being a grandmother.
She is survived by her daughter, Amy Koh and her husband Andrew Koh; her son, Drew Conly and his wife KC Cox; her grandchildren, Sam, Pearl, and Maeve; and her siblings, Joanne Hogg, Karen Layton, Hobart Swan, and Tim Swan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hobart and Nancy Swan, and by her husband Samuel S. Conly, whose absence she felt deeply throughout the years that followed.
Vivian leaves behind the art she created, friendships spanning decades and miles, and an enduring contribution to the cultural life of Lewisburg and West Virginia.
A memorial celebrating Vivian’s life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. A reception with live music will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by the memorial service from 2 to 3 p.m. The service will also be available virtually for family and friends unable to attend in person, with details to be shared prior to the memorial.
