A Fall River woman well-known throughout the community in various capacities has passed away.
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, Vivia Ayrton, a 50-year-old clinical psychologist and proud mother of four, died earlier this month in Istanbul, Turkey, after complications related to a heart condition following surgery.
Ayrton was remembered by her son John Galiotti as a devoted mother to him and his brothers, Vinicius Galiotti, Pietro Galiotti, and Joshua Ayrton. Friends and family also knew her as someone who loved Zumba, cooking, traveling, dancing, and music.
Professionally, Ayrton spent her later years treating people facing depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, suicidal thoughts, and other serious mental health challenges. Those close to her said she was widely respected by patients for going beyond what clinics required and for pushing for better care in the workplaces where she served, as well as in Massachusetts mental health policy.
Galiotti said the response after her death showed how many lives she touched. He described her as having an over the top personality, emotional strength, boundless compassion, and a gift for building connections in her community.
Ayrton had traveled to Turkey alone for a surgical procedure when she died.
