Patriotism Plays Well at Benefit

SAN DIEGO —  One wouldn’t quite call it serendipity, but rather startling coincidence that Emmy Cote chose the theme of “America” a year ago when laying plans for Friday’s annual fashion luncheon benefit for the San Diego Symphony.

“We had the theme all set well before the invasion of Kuwait, and it was planned strictly for the patriotism,” said Elaine Steidle, a spokeswoman for the sponsoring San Diego Symphony Auxiliary.

Patriotism proved a hot sell to the record crowd--for a Symphony Auxiliary show--that filled the San Diego Marriott’s largest ballroom to within a pearl necklace or two of capacity. Despite the recession, which has wreaked something of a slash-and-burn effect on the attendance at quite a few fund-raisers lately, the luncheon sold out at 840. Cote was especially pleased at a second record: the 350 patrons who purchased the top-priced, $100 tickets.

“America” blazed in red, white and blue (even the lengthy ramp for the Saks Fifth Avenue-La Jolla show was hung with bunting), and guests rose from their seats at the double when the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Color Guard marched in bearing the stars and stripes. Voices soared into soprano flights for the singing of the National Anthem, and ,while a few people choked, there was no evidence of any lingering Roseanne Barr influence on the way the anthem is sung.

At the close of the program, the Marines again stepped in measured cadence across the massive stage. This time, the crowd shot to its feet to sing “America the Beautiful.” A few women plucked American flags from the centerpieces and waved them in time to the music.

As Cote, Symphony board President Warren Kessler, auxiliary President Ruth Beamish and no less than three or four hundred of the attendees noted, the show was unique in the country in that it was accompanied by the full symphony orchestra. As far as is known to the luncheon’s organizers, no other fashion event for a U.S. symphony has proceeded with the participation of the benefiting orchestra.

After the lunch of fruit-stuffed Cornish hens and chocolate violas (the lids flipped open to reveal pipings of macadamia mousse), the orchestra opened the show with Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” as narration for the presentation of gowns by daring New York designer Mary McFadden. To be brief, McFadden’s message for spring is short. Some of the pastel, beaded and black crepe confections were so short, in fact, that a few women asked the agonized question, “How do you sit down in that?” The stock answer, unsurprisingly, was “You don’t.”

The Marines, stony-faced and on the sidelines for the duration of the ramp show, nonetheless executed a few eyes-right maneuvers when models in dresses that ended way, way, way above the knee lounged down the runway.

Medleys from Gershwin and “My Fair Lady” also scored the gown presentation, which ended with a stage full of brides in modified Art Nouveau headdresses. The show ended in a gust of applause and a mad dash for the doors as guests competed to be the first out of the Marriott’s celebrated parking lots.

Cote’s committee included Ina Bartell, Ruth Kirtland, Harriet Levi, Gene De Fillippi, Liz McCullah, Marne De Silva, Dian Peet, Linda Hooberman, Nancy Podbielniak, Dorothea Garfield, Bambi Schmidt, Kay Stone, Virginia Graham, Anne Gonzales, Maxine Trimble, Luba Johnston, Juanita Rutemiller and Richard Triplett.

It helped to be tall-- very tall--if you wished to see across the Atlas Convention Center’s Town & Country ballroom Tuesday evening.

Ed White, Bill Walton, Dan Fouts, Don Macek, Charlie Joiner, Tim Flannery and dozens of other retired giants of the gridiron, diamond and court starred in the 45th annual Salute to the Champions, co-hosted by the San Diego Hall of Champions and the Greater San Diego Sports Assn. as a benefit for the Balboa Park sports museum.

This dinner may have the unique local distinction as the one that grew into a museum. Founded in 1946 by major sports figure and businessman Bob Breitbard, the event was followed in 1953 by the creation of the Breitbard Hall of Fame and in 1961 by the founding of the Hall of Champions. Tuesday, White, a former San Diego Chargers offensive lineman, and former San Diego Padres third baseman Graig Nettles (who missed the event) brought to 73 the number of nationally known sports figures, all with San Diego County connections, to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. President George Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle topped a remarkably long list of politicians whose letters of congratulations to the pair were printed in the program book.

If it was an evening of honors--which it certainly was, to a degree probably unsurpassed by any other local fund-raiser--it extended beyond stars from major league teams to encompass presentations made to a variety of adult community sports figures, and to recognition of dozens of outstanding university and high school athletes, many of whom have attracted national attention.

The program included numerous videotapes and endless introductions, all presided over by Master of Ceremonies Jim Laslavic, now sports director for KNSD-TV news and a former middle linebacker with the Chargers. As nourishment during the presentations, the ballroom served a training table meal of salad, steak and shrimp and kiwi cake.

According to museum director Barry Humphrey, the event was expected to generate about $60,000 in net proceeds. The dinner was another exception to the recent slump in attendance. A record 720 people turned out.

“We’ve got an up event in a down market,” said Humphrey, who partly credited the fact that a portion of the funds raised will help support the museum’s “Say Yes to Sports” youth program.

Former Charger Walt Sweeney made a special presentation to “Say Yes to Sports,” which he said offers positive alternatives for San Diego youngsters. “It’s for the kids who don’t play sports in school, who need some fun projects for their afternoons and weekends,” he said. “The kids have embraced this program.” Several thousand youths participate annually.

The program included a presentation to the San Diego Sockers, for the eighth year running the Major Indoor Soccer League champs.

“Nine will be fine,” intoned Hall of Champions board President Frank Silva as he made the presentation to Sockers owner Ron Fowler. Presentations also were made to blind skier Urban Miyares, named Disabled Athlete of the Year; horse owners and philanthropists John and Betty Mabee, as San Diego Community Champions; golfer Phil Mickelson as Amateur Star of the Year, and the Padres’ Bip Roberts and the Chargers’ Marion Butts as Professional Co-stars for 1990.

Sixteen earlier inductees to the Breitbard Hall of Fame attended and were introduced, including Amby Schindler, voted Player of the Game in the 1940 Rose Bowl; 1962 Wimbledon tennis champ Karen Hantze Susman; former Chargers coach Sid Gillman, and Dr. Bud Muehleisen, often referred to as the “Father of Racquetball.”