Vanessa Kendall February 1 2022

Vanessa Syringa (Percival) Kendall, 76, of Greenwich, CT passed away on February 1st, 2022. She was born February 19, 1945 in Chalfont Saint Giles, Buckinghamshire, England, the daughter of Alfred John Percival and Myosotis Sheila (Muir).

Vanessa lived a culturally rich life, spending much of her childhood between London and Baghdad where her father was a photographer for the British Iraqi Petroleum Company. She studied in Paris at the Alliance Francaise before migrating to the US in 1966, first to Chicago, where she worked in advertising and then to New York, where she began a career in public opinion research, working on surveys on the 1976 presidential election for Time Magazine and the New York Times.

Vanessa was known for her taste, warmth and quick (if sometimes a bit cheeky) wit. She was intrinsically creative and infused art into her daily life through interior design, cooking and writing. She had a passion for Art Deco, French cuisine and mysteries. She loved music and was known for her unrivaled vocabulary, completing the New York Times crossword daily.

With a family spread throughout Europe, she often took her husband and children traveling to London, Sweden or the south of France to visit her mother. She collected menus from her favorite restaurants and furniture from the 30s. She instilled in her children a love of food, music and travel.

Vanessa’s career in real estate spanned over 30 years, loved by her colleagues and clients for her honesty and discerning eye.

She is survived by her husband and life-long partner, Rick, son Jonathan, daughter Alexis and granddaughters Gemma and Ramona.

A memorial service will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Vanessa’s name to Doctors Without Borders.