WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JULY 3, 2007 -- The following statement was made today by Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes Foundation:
We are deeply saddened by the passing last night of our former Chairman of the Board, Beverly Sills. Miss Sills was acclaimed throughout the world for her brilliant career in opera. She also stood out for her long and remarkable role as a volunteer leader of the March of Dimes. Together with Peter B. Greenough, her late husband and fellow member of the National Board of Trustees, Miss Sills had a remarkable record of service to our work to save babies from birth defects, premature birth, and other causes of infant death and disability. Few people were as busy as Miss Sills, and yet she tirelessly devoted that most precious resource – her time -- to improving the health of America's babies and children. Miss Sills became a volunteer for the March of Dimes in 1971, when she was averaging 100 performances a year -- and she continued to serve for 23 years throughout her equally busy years in the 1980s as General Director and then President of the New York City Opera, and into the 1990s as a Managing Director of the Metropolitan Opera and as Chairman of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Miss Sills got involved not only in national projects but also on the personal level. She and Peter Greenough had two children with serious birth defects. By publicly sharing their own experiences and insights, Miss Sills gave encouragement and strength to many other families. “I happen to be very proud of my children, and I felt that if by talking about them, I could help other parents in similar situations, then speaking out for the March of Dimes would be worthwhile,” Miss Sills said.
On behalf of the March of Dimes, Miss Sills visited babies in hospital neonatal intensive care units and talked to their parents, doctors, and nurses. She gave benefit performances, addressed national conferences, and spoke at symposia on maternal and infant health. She took on many demanding leadership roles, including national chairman of the March of Dimes annual Mothers March fundraiser; national chairman of the March of Dimes 50th anniversary celebration in 1988; and co-chairman of the annual Gourmet Gala in New York City. In 1989, Miss Sills was elected to the March of Dimes National Board of Trustees, and was named Vice Chairman the following year. In 1991, she became Chairman of the Board and she served in that position until 1994.
To all these roles, Miss Sills brought her trademark warmth, drama, humor, wisdom, and wit. With affection and admiration, we say Brava! The staff and volunteers of the March of Dimes extend our deepest condolences to her daughter Meredith Greenough, her son, Peter Greenough, Jr., and the entire family.
