The Willow Glen Resident

Budding Interest: Lil Severin grew approximately 2,000 species of orchids in the three greenhouses she tended with her husband.

'Orchid Lady,' high school teacher Lil Severin, 92, dies

She went from a one- room schoolhouse to WG High over 30 years

By Pam Marino

Like the orchids she loved, former Willow Glen High School teacher Lil Severin's life bloomed spectacularly, as she raised a family, animals and orchids for more than 50 years.

"She was really one in a million," her husband, Henry Severin, said of his wife. Lil Severin died Aug. 19 in a Los Altos nursing home. She was 92.

Lil Severin was affectionately known as the "Orchid Lady." Her passion for the unique flowers took her and her husband to 47 different countries to collect specimens. The two ran Severin Orchid Farm from their home in Cupertino; Henry Severin estimates there are 2,000 varieties of orchids among the 10,000 plants in the three climate-controlled greenhouses built on their hillside property.

"We managed to keep PG&E very happy," he said.

Lil Severin's fascination with orchids began in the 1940s when "somebody gave her one lousy orchid," Henry Severin joked. Eventually Lil Severin became a certified orchid judge, judging in Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and all over California. She judged until she was 90 years old. Three orchid species were named after her, along with a special award for miniature orchids, called the Lil Severin Award.

She taught school for more than three decades in every type of school, from a one-room schoolhouse to high schools. Lil Severin finished her teaching career at Willow Glen High School, where she taught for more than 10 years.

Severin was active in the American Orchid Society and belonged to several local orchid clubs, serving as president of most of them, including the Malihini, Peninsula and Monterey Bay orchid societies. She helped found the Malihini society.

Lil Severin also founded the Cupertino 4-H Club and was active in it for 17 years. All three of the Severin children--Robert, David and Patricia--were members. The family raised goats, chickens, geese, rabbits, pheasants and peacocks.

Lillian Ellen Wiggins was born on Dec. 4, 1905, in Nebraska. Her family moved all over the United States during her childhood; Mrs. Severin attended 14 different grammar schools. Eventually she graduated from Chico High School and Chico State University. She was one of the first women to attend Stanford University, where she earned masters degrees in physical education and biology.

She met husband Henry during World War II, when he was flying airplanes as a radio operator and navigator. She and Henry were married on Oct. 14, 1945, in Reno. Afterward they moved to Monta Vista.

A pacemaker had been helping Mrs. Severin continue her active lifestyle over the years. She began ailing, however, and she lost her ability to swallow.

A funeral was held on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Skylawn Memorial Park.

She is survived by husband Henry; her three children, Robert Wayne Severin of San Jose, David Edward Severin of Cupertino, and Patricia May Savage of Portland, Ore.; and six grandchildren, Daniel, James, Michael and Matthew Severin, Monica Gibbons and Ashley Duggan.

In honor of her dedication to and love of orchids, the Malihini Orchid Society is establishing a special trophy in Severin's name. Donations for the award should be sent to to the Malihini Orchid Society, c/o Jim Williams, 3300 Valley Squire Lane, San Jose, 95117. Donations may also be made to a plant judging scholarship fund being established in Severin's memory with the American Orchid Society, 6000 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, Fla., 33405.

Because of the tremendous cost involved in operating the three greenhouses the family is selling many of the remaining orchids with the help of volunteers from local orchid societies. The sale is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 22570 San Juan Road, at the intersection of San Juan and Stevens Canyon roads.

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