Beverly Sills, born Belle Miriam Silverman in Brooklyn of immigrant parents, rose from child singing sensation (she performed from the age of four on a national radio show) to operatic superstar - one of the few to achieve fame beyond the world of opera fans. With her charismatic personality, "Bubbles", as she was affectionately known, became a popular television talk show guest in the 70s. She had her own talk show on NBC for two years.
Sills performed primarily for the New York City Opera and then the Metropolitan Opera during her three decade career as a coloratura soprano. Upon retirement from singing, she served as the New York City Opera's general director, chairman of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and then chairman of the Metropolitan Opera. She also dedicated herself to fundraising for the March of Dimes and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Sills received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980, the National Medal of Arts in 1990 and was a Kennedy Center honoree in 1990. She was nominated for a number of Grammy and Emmy awards during her distinguished career, and won two Emmys.
Sills, her husband, financial reporter Peter Greenough, and their daughter spent summers on the Vineyard from the late 50s until recently. They first resided in a West Chop cottage, then built a lovely waterview home in the privacy of Makonikey. Sills had a love of color and filled her home with brightly painted art and knick-knacks from Haiti and Mexico. She also stood out at benefits and art gallery openings in colorful ehnic clothing, complementing her bright red hair. She had a reputation on island as a very warm, funny and generous woman who never sought attention.
Sills sold her Vineyard home nine years ago when her husband became ill. In 2006, he passed away. Sills spent the rest of her life in New York City with her daughter Muffy who, ironically, is deaf. The larger-than-life opera star succumbed to lung cancer on July 2, 2007 at the age of 78.
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