Victoria Mayer Altvater

Victoria Kirchoff Mayer Altvater died peacefully after a long, full life on January 11, 2023.  Vicki will be remembered for her lively mind, kind and classy demeanor, and fierce love for family and friends.  

Vicki was born on February 21, 1931, in Granite City, Illinois to John and Tomea (Loman) Kirchoff, joining older brother Kiril.  The family were proud owners of Kirchoff Grocery in the immigrant community of Lincoln Place, where Vicki had her first job as soon as she could reach a shelf.  They were very close with the Loman family, the Macedonian community, and Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Church.

She was a graduate of Granite City High School, William Woods University, and a very proud member of a research team at Washington University School of Medicine.  She had a lifelong interest in medicine and loved to reminisce about working with leading researchers, even completing Mini Med School with Washington University while in her 80s.

Vicki married Matthew Francis Mayer in 1962, and ultimately settled in Frontenac, Missouri with their children Matthew “Kirk” and Tomea.  She was passionate about community work highlighted by decades of service to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, where she was President of the Women’s Association, member of the Board of Trustees, and served on countless committees.  Vicki lent her charm, work ethic, and organization skills to many St. Louis area charities over 50 years of community service, forming lifelong friendships.

Vicki and Matt loved parties and charity events, annual Mexico trips with friends, holidays with extended family, and, of course, classical music.  They sat in the fourth row on the left for decades so Vicki could see the violinists, pianists, and conductors up close and watch every expression.

Matt passed away in 1996 after 33 years of marriage, and Vicki married Roger Arthur Altvater in 2002 (widower of Mary Ann Altvater). The combined family of 7 adult children, 15 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren were the joy of their later years, calling themselves the “Lucky Bunch”.  Vicki and Roger celebrated 20 years of marriage and loved a lively party, family time, and both classical and jazz music. The “Lucky Bunch” lost Roger in late 2022, with Vicki joining him just 6 weeks later.  

Vicki was preceded in death by her husbands Matthew Francis Mayer and Roger Arthur Altvater, her brother Kiril Kirchoff (Margaret), and her son, Matthew Kirchoff Mayer (Sarah). She is survived by her daughter Tomea Mayer Mersmann (Kenneth), children Margaret Altvater Clark (Dave), Patricia Altvater Davis (late Michael), Kurt Altvater (Elaine), Jeffrey Altvater (Melanie), and Tina Altvater (Mark); and grandchildren, Joy Mersmann, Grace Mersmann, Mark Mersmann, Julie Clark Gay (Ryan), Curran Clark (Kylie,) Tricia Clark Martin (James), Christopher Neider (Graciela), Nicholas Neider, Matthew Davis, Alexander Davis, Konrad Altvater, Maren Altvater, Hadley Altvater, Adam Hotaling, and Jules Hotaling.

Private family burial with Celebration of Life upcoming.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra or to a St. Louis charity of your choice.