Alumni Spotlight

Paul, Peter, and Frank Viviano Owners of Viviano Flower Shop

Growing up, Paul, Peter, and Frank Viviano all worked in the family business, Viviano Flower Shop, founded in 1937 by their grandfather, Frank P. Viviano, Sr.

And today, in the company’s 75 th anniversary year, the three brothers have led the company’s expansion to four locations and employ over 130 people.

Paul serves as the CEO of the business. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Hillsdale and later an MA in Finance at Walsh. Although he began working in a lab, his father, Frank Jr., asked him to join the business not long after college. Paul hasn’t looked back. As CEO, he oversees all departments, and directly manages the design and delivery departments, as well as handling the finances.

Peter is the President of Viviano’s. He earned a Bachelor’s in Horticulture from Michigan State University, and always knew he would be in the “flower business.” Peter handles product development and merchandising.

Frank is Vice-President of the company. He earned an Accounting degree at Hillsdale, and later earned his J.D. at the University of Detroit. Frank said, “I had Mr. (John) Schmid for Accounting, and he said to us that one path to success was earning our CPA degree, and then a law degree.” Frank initially worked for a CPA firm for two years. When his brothers asked him to join them, “I realized I missed the family business.” Frank also works with Finance, but primarily handles wedding sales, and meeting with brides-to-be.

Despite their varying corporate responsibilities, all three can and do step to the “design table,” a workbench 5 feet by 2.5 feet, and design a flower arrangement. They fondly remember their father standing at the design table, doing arrangements, placing orders, and meeting with vendors.

Peter said, “We had to stand next to him. Our dad was the first one here and the last one to leave. He taught us all how to design.”

Frank is often at the table, doing the first arrangement in an order, for the employees to then “follow along.”

Peter says their father never strong-armed them to follow in his footsteps, and at a young age gave them each responsibilities. ”Our dad didn’t let age be a limitation. He gave us the confidence to do anything”. Paul Viviano, ‘79 Peter Viviano, ‘84

Frank Viviano, ’89

Each brother was running the greenhouse at age 13 or 14, and ordering plants.

The brothers note they have over 30 first cousins, and at one point, nearly every single one has worked at Viviano Flower Shop. Frank said, “We worked here at Christmas. We were all together, and we enjoyed it. It was our big family Christmas party.”

Although there are now far more employees than family members at Viviano’s, Peter cites the family atmosphere for their low turnover. “This is one big extended family.”

The Viviano Family also has had an extended history with the Christian Brothers. Their grandfather, Frank Sr., was a high-school student at St. Joe’s, who left school at 16 to help the family when his father suddenly died of a heart attack.

Later their father, Frank Jr., planned to attend De La Salle, but ended up attending U. of D. High. His namesake, Frank, ’89, says his father “messed up on one of the answer sheet lines, and then had all wrong answers. He realized his error, but it was too late.” Their father’s brothers are graduates, however. Antonio “Tony” Viviano, ‘53, is the retired Chief Judge of the Macomb

Viviano Flower Shop, with locations in St. Clair Shores, Chesterfield Township, Shelby Township, and Grosse Pointe Woods was voted Detroit’s Best Flowers every year since 2007 in the “WDIV Vote 4 The Best” Contest.

County Circuit Court. Frank Jr.’s other brother was Sam Viviano, ‘51. Tony’s sons are also graduates. David ‘90, is a Macomb County Judge, and his brother Joe, ‘92, is an attorney.

When it came time for Paul to attend high school, he said he and his parents visited various high schools, including his father’s alma mater.

Paul finished at the “old school,” while Peter had two years at the Detroit campus and two years in the current facility. Frank spent all four years at the current De La Salle location.

Their father, who passed away a few years ago, was a huge supporter of the school, encouraging other family members and friends to attend, and even writing letters of recommendation for any young men he felt would benefit from a Lasallian Education.

Paul, Peter, and Frank have been involved with the school in various ways, and marvel at the school’s expansion, academic offerings, and range of activities.

Paul’s son, Joseph, ‘08, recently graduated from Hillsdale in four years rather than the usual five for Accounting majors. Paul notes his son’s six AP classes enabled him to start Hillsdale as a sophomore. “As a parent, it’s a great thing not to have to pay for an additional year of college.”

Peter’s three sons, currently in grade school at St. Thecla, are eagerly looking to becoming Pilots over the next few years.

Paul, Peter, and Frank all have lasting memories of De La Salle, of various faculty members such as Br. Tom

Lackey, Mr. Mike Szatkowski, and Mr. Tony DeSantis, and the camaraderie of their high school years. All three keep in contact with lots of their fellow alumni, and

Frank says some of his best friends were his De La Salle classmates.

But they also cite their high school academic preparation as making their college years easier. Frank began Hillsdale with 14 credits from his 3 Advanced

Placement classes, and said that his first two semester in accounting were a review of what he had already learned in high school. He says, “DLS prepares you for the next level better than any other place. You are getting ready for the next level, not just getting a high school degree. It really is college prep.”

Peter says he’s done some checking on how top universities rank De La Salle. “DLS is in the top five. Every time.”

Paul particularly praises De La Salle. “It is one of the best schools in this area. There’s not much that competes with it. It is not just academically challenging. The school is doing a better job of teaching spirituality than when I was there. The spiritual element is so important. It doesn’t matter what you do if you fail to serve God. De La Salle will educate our children in understanding what’s important in life.”

The character-building aspect of De La Salle is echoed by Peter. “I remember Br. Casimir being very upset with some freshmen acting up at an assembly. He called the upperclassmen together and told us that we set the example. That we should say to the freshmen, ‘We don’t do that here.’ That became our mantra. “

Frank remembers teachers and coaches adopting the Lasallian attitude. “You learned not to speak unkindly. The coaches would let you have it. You learned to interact with your peers. To be a kind and generous person.”

Over the years, the family has been generous to De La Salle, and believe it’s important to support the school. Frank says, “There aren’t that many institutions like De La Salle around. Kids will get more than an education.”

For more information about Viviano Flower Shop, check their website at www.viviano.com or call 1-800-Viviano.