Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name (as provided) | Vivienne Verwey |
| Also known as | Vivienne Player |
| Birth year | 1937 (approximate) |
| Death | August 18, 2021 |
| Spouse | Gary Player (married January 19, 1957) |
| Children | 6 |
| Grandchildren | 22 (reported) |
| Great-grandchildren | 2 (reported) |
| Notable roles | Wife and partner of Gary Player, mother, amateur golfer, philanthropic partner |
Early Life and Family Roots
When Vivienne Verwey arrived, the peaceful discipline of the golf course and greens formed the world. She was born in 1937 and was raised in a South African family with a strong golf heritage. Her brother, Bobby Verwey, would go on to become a professional golfer in his own right, and her father was employed in the industry. This beginning is anchored by numbers and names: 1937 as the year of debut, a sibling who played the same fairways, and a childhood that sowed the seeds for a lifelong love of the game.
Early mornings, lengthy walks on turf, and a social map centered around clubs and competitions are all recurring themes in her youth. The pattern that eventually connected her to one of golf’s most well-known sons was carved over those years. A lifetime partnership was clearly indicated by Vivienne’s past, which frequently reads like a map.
Marriage and Family Life
On January 19, 1957, Vivienne Verwey and Gary Player were married. It was a 64-year marriage that would result in six children. Simple math shows that there are two parents, six children, 22 grandchildren, and at least two great-grandchildren. The Player family had a big, hectic family life that was based on the responsibilities of being a professional athlete.
Vivienne had a consistent and broad role in the household. She raised the kids and handled household chores while Gary roamed the world. She became the focal point of a household that revolved around a public job. The children Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa, and Amanda are frequently mentioned in family narratives. Amanda got involved with the family foundation’s work in the United States, while Marc became well-known for his family business endeavors. Together, the siblings created a network that brought the Player name to the worlds of sport, charity, and business.
Family dynamics were regular in private life and revered in public. While the player’s name traveled across nations, Vivienne kept the house rooted. The painting, which depicts a hearth that enabled a champion to continue journeying, is both majestic and domestic.
Personal Achievements and Interests
Vivienne was no mere spectator. She played golf and produced moments of vivid achievement. One oft-repeated anecdote credits her with making two holes-in-one in the same round during a Johannesburg game. Whether myth or memory, the story points to genuine skill and a calm that matched competition.
Beyond the scorecard, her accomplishment was relational: raising six children, guiding a family business legacy, and being an active partner in philanthropic projects. She functioned both as a character in Gary’s public life and as a private vector of discipline—an organizer whose achievements were measured in birthdays, practices, and quiet counsel.
Her identity blended roles: amateur player, mother, supporter, and manager of a complex domestic economy. In that mélange she found her distinct place, a presence less flashy than trophies but no less consequential.
Philanthropy and Public Life
Vivienne’s public life unfolded largely through joint projects with her spouse. The Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation became a platform for charitable work that spanned education and community support. The foundation’s mission translated private concern into organized outreach: schools supported, programs launched, and a family office structure that carried philanthropic activity across borders.
Her contributions were practical and human. She attended events, lent the family name, and took part in decisions that turned personal generosity into institutional programs. The foundation’s existence is concrete proof that giving in this family was not occasional but structural: an enterprise employing people, tracking outcomes, and sustaining initiatives over years.
Later Years and Legacy
Diagnosis and illness entered the record in the later chapter of Vivienne’s life. Around mid-2020 she faced a battle with pancreatic cancer that would culminate in her death on August 18, 2021. Those dates close a life measured in decades and open the aftermath measured in remembrances, tributes, and the ongoing family presence.
Legacy is not only a ledger of dates; it is an atmosphere a person leaves behind. Vivienne’s legacy lives in six children, in charitable programs that continue to operate, and in the memory of a partnership that lasted more than six decades. She became a foundation stone beneath a public figure’s fame, and like any stone she steadied what was built upon her.
Extended Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1937 | Approximate year of birth for Vivienne Verwey |
| Early 1950s | Met Gary Player while both were teenagers |
| January 19, 1957 | Marriage to Gary Player |
| 1957–1970s | Raised six children during Gary Player’s professional touring years |
| Date unspecified | Anecdote: two holes-in-one in a single round reported |
| Mid-2020 | Reported diagnosis of pancreatic cancer |
| August 18, 2021 | Death announced |
FAQ
Who was Vivienne Verwey?
Vivienne Verwey was the longtime wife and partner of golfer Gary Player, a mother of six, an amateur golfer, and a philanthropic collaborator.
When did she marry Gary Player?
She married Gary Player on January 19, 1957.
How many children did she have?
Vivienne had six children: Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele, Theresa, and Amanda.
Was she involved in charity work?
Yes, she partnered in the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation, supporting education and community programs.
When did she pass away?
Vivienne died on August 18, 2021, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
