Happy 50th birthday, Aaron! You are one of those people who is always a joy to be around: your incredibly bright smile, your optimism, your warmth. We’ve always admired your ability to push through hard circumstances and get through to the other side. Not to mention your fantastic ability to choose an excellent life partner! You’re a mensch through and through and we look forward to when we can celebrate you in person.

With love,
Saryn and Chris

Happy 50th to my big cousin. I have always enjoyed spending time with you. Whether we were at vovoa and vovo's house for the holidays and then your parents for Christmas time.
Coming to see you at Wesleyan for the weekend..."A star is born".

Our boys are the same age and it is nice to see them playing together, like they did this last Christmas.

What can a mom say in just a paragraph about so many years of being together...the good, the bad, the ugly!!! The most amazing memories of trips together, of family birthdays, Christmases, and just hanging out with the huge clan of aunts and uncles and cousins...of going to movies and Friday nights at Uncle Tony's with the Beckers and going through elementary and middle and high school and college and graduate school...
Enough to fill a lifetime, and then came Renya and our grandchildren who are the loves of our lives...so our cup really runneth over!!!
I fell in love with the little munchkin below, and it's been quite a journey since then!
Wishing you the happiest 50th birthday, despite the times we are in, and when we are back out in the world, we will truly celebrate.
Love you always...

From the first day we met I felt so good about the connection & I knew everything would be sooooo fine for Renya & Aaron's path...all thoughts and memories filled with positivity ! Happy Birthday,Aaron...Miss you...enjoy...

My dear SON-in law

Over ten years ago, one morning in October, Renya called me to say she had finally met her man at a 7-minute dating event (although you weren’t even scheduled for the 7 minutes – you saw her and strategized how to connect). The next day she called after her first date and that was it – the end of over a decade of searching!

A year later and a beautiful wedding at which you and Renya danced the Samba. Over these 10 + years, I have seen how you and Renya work together to support each other through challenging situations. And I have loved witnessing your parenting, especially the part that brings out the actor in you. I remember a lot of roleplays with Annika in which you were the son and she bossed you around, and I remember you two playing hobby horse, giddyap, giddyap and making lots of bizarre truck runs with Gavin, reading bedtime stories. They are lucky to have such a creative and loving Daddy!

I have enjoyed your passion for making organizations more humane, how you pursued degrees and certifications, and enjoyed our conversations on organization development. I admire your passion for never ending reading and learning.

I love showing my art to you – your enthusiasm is unbridled!

So fortunate to have such a wonderful SON in law!,
Love,
Mamaclaire

The times are too few that we get to talk together. I'm so happy we took the opportunity to have dinner last June in Times Square with Marta and Neves. Each time we share a few moments, the warmth, intelligence and kindness of your personality reminds me how fortunate I am to be part of the same family. All the best to you on your 50th birthday. Here's a photo I took in August of 2011 of you participating in one of our celebrated Madeiran traditions.

My brother, my friend, my fellow traveler, my partner in parenting, etc. I cannot believe we have kids the same age!! I can't even recall the year we met but it must be over 20 years. Walking and sitting near Union Square. Eating at Chat N Chew (which is closed!). Working at the Bronx REAL. Riding the #6 train with Claire. Talking about organizational development, personal growth, leadership, life. I'm soooo happy for Renya and the kids that they have you, and so happy for you that you have them. The journey continues. Thought you'd enjoy this song. Mazel tov my friend.........….

Aaron, Happy Birthday and Parabens! ( I'm making a disclaimer here, hoping I have done this correctly! )LOL!
Despite this challenging time in our lives, remember that you are surrounded by family and love .The best thing to Celebrate!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AARON! Here's what I remember: meeting for an interview, liking one another immediately, finding a way to work together -- and really loving the creativity!, finding a way to befriend one another outside of work, and then independently meeting two totally new, beautiful people to make life outside of work full and enlivening. (You still have two little ones, so enlivening might feel more exhausting at times, but in the big picture ... EN-LIFE-ENING? #dadjokes) Joe and I are singing a song for you from the isle of Manhattan and wishing you the best possible celebration under very off circumstances. In addition to being thoughtful, caring, delicate, conscientious and dedicated, I hope you get to see that you are loved, cherished and immensely valuable to many, many people. Celebrate well! xo Bryan & Joe

PS I'm forgetful about photo taking, but this serene moment was taken at Wave Hill just a few minutes before we ran into each other and had lunch together with three generations of Vieiras. :) Until we can visit again!

Dear Aaron,

Edgar and I are wishing you many congratulations on your 50th Birthday! I know that you are finding ways to have a joyful birthday in this scariest of times.
I remember several things with such affection and warmth - when you and Renya started out and she was living on my 3rd floor and your great warm smile and I knew that you were THE trustworthy, generous, intelligent and talented man for my friend.
The brunches with the delicious quiches I think you both made.
The wedding and your dancing together and the poems and bracelets.
And sitting in our kitchen with baby Annika and laughing and see you as a dad and knowing you are the greatest with such generosity of spirit once again.
And.....scene.
love,
Susan and Edgar