Amy Atkinson-Vieira

Amy Atkinson-Vieira

             Amy passed away April 18, 2017. Amy was born December 7, 1965 to Patricia and Ray Atkinson of Napa, California. She grew up in Napa and attended Irene Snow Elementary, Ridgeview Junior High, and Napa High School. In high school, Amy was a four-year varsity basketball starter and a three-year starter in volleyball and softball. She rounded out her senior year with varsity track and field and swimming. Amy never played on a JV team, and according to one Napa Register sports writer, had more varsity “starts” than any athlete in Napa County history. Her twelve varsity letters may also be a Napa record. In volleyball, Amy was All County and All MEL for the 1982-1983 champions, and repeated as All County and All MEL as a senior. She was also captain and MVP of the 1983-1984 team.

            Amy started 100 games of basketball for Napa High. Napa won two championships and tied for a third with a three-year league record of 32-4 for the championship years. Her basketball honors at Napa High include: Captain 1982-1983 and 1983-1984; 1983 All-Tournament Team-Wine Valley Invitational; 1983 MVP Fairfield Invitational Tournament; All MEL three times; and MEL MVP 1983. Additional athletic awards in high school include 1984 Athlete of the Year and 1984 Times Herald’s Athlete of The Year.

            Amy was also president of her senior class at Napa High.

            After graduating from Napa High in 1984, Amy enrolled at Napa Valley College. At Napa College, she was All Conference MVP of the volleyball team for two years, team MVP, All Conference League MVP of the basketball team for two years, All State player, and second in the state at the JC level in rebounding with an average of 14 per game. She then went on to Loyola Marymount with a basketball scholarship where she was captain and ranked fourth in the nation in rebounding. Amy continued her education at Sacramento State where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business.

            In 1999, Amy was inducted into the Napa High School Hall of Fame, joining her grandfather Ernest Sander, and followed by her sister Martha Simpson.

            Amy’s greatest joys in life were family, friends, and sports. She would do anything for the people she loved and she touched many of our hearts. Amy will always be remembered for her big heart, her competitive nature, the way she always lit up the room when she walked in, and her entertaining, loving personality.

            Amy is survived by her father, Ray Atkinson; sisters, Mary (Tim) Harrison, Carrie (Steve) Schweizer, Martha (Casey) Simpson; nephews, Tanner and Taylor Harrison, and Shayne Simpson; nieces, Macie (Bryan) Day, Megan and Cassidy Schweizer, Mackenzie Harrison, and Sarah Simpson. She is also survived by her great aunt, Doris Sander; beloved partner, Mark Thomas; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ernest and Barbara Sander, Ray and Gertrude Atkinson; her mother, Patty Atkinson; her brother, Samuel Sander Atkinson and infant son, Bodie Ernest Vieira.

            She will be greatly missed but her spirit will live with us forever.

            Everyone is warmly invited to a celebration of her life, and reception thereafter, on Monday, May 1, 2017 at 11:00am in the Tulocay Chapel, 411 Coombsville Rd., Napa, CA.

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