Harriet Fenn Van Vliet passed peacefully of natural causes on March 8, 2021. Born on Feb. 16, 1925 in Lexington, Mass., she was the daughter of Margaret Potter Fenn and Connecticut State Senator, Edward Loren Fenn. She is a graduate of Greenwich Academy, attended Columbia University and graduated from Wellesley College. After Wellesley, she worked with an interior design firm in New York City before her marriage to Stanley J. Van Vliet, Jr.
With a strong commitment to volunteerism, Harriet was a longtime member of the Greenwich Junior League through which she dedicated much of her time as a docent at the former Samuel Pryor Doll Museum in Greenwich. She additionally served as a docent at the Neuberger and Whitney Museums in both New York and Stamford.
Harriet was warm-hearted, generous, and cheerful. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, her zest for life and her love of music and the arts. She had impeccable taste and great patience with a busy family of sailors and skiers who were always late for dinner. She spent many summer hours in support of the junior sailing program at the Belle Haven Club where she and Stanley were established members.
Harriet was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Edward Albert Fenn; her son, Stanley J. Van Vliet, III and her husband; Stanley J. Van Vliet, Jr.
She is survived by her daughters and son, Elizabeth Van Vliet Oztemel (Greg), Margaret Van Vliet Moss of Denver and Greenwich, and Derek Fenn Van Vliet of Greenwich. She is the grandmother of Brooke Van Vliet Hinchman (Kasey) of Northern California; Eric Stanley Van Vliet (Krista) also of Northern California; Elizabeth Moss Pollock (Kurt) of Atlanta; Margaret Potter Moss also of Atlanta; and Lucile Shafer Moss of Denver. She is also the great grandmother of Andrew Reese Pollock and Abigail Fenn Pollock, both of Atlanta.
A private graveside service will be held in Greenwich.
In lieu of flowers, please offer your donation in Harriet’s name to the ministry of your choice at Christ Church Greenwich.
