The Crowd

B.W. Cook

The American Cancer Society Cattle Baron League presented “Boots on The

Beach” recently at the Newport Dunes on the Back Bay.

The enormous undertaking brought together more than 1,000 guests under a

white tent erected on Newport’s Back Bay. The size of the tent, the

entertainment, the food, the long and impressive guest list of who’s who

locals, while important, are not the real story. The real story that

needs telling concerns Barbara Steinberg, co-chair of the event organized

to raise funds and fight cancer. Steinberg signed on for the co-chair

duties more than a year ago.

“I wanted to do this to honor my husband’s memory,” she shared with

fellow volunteers. Steinberg’s husband died of cancer 10 years ago.

Margaret Leichtfuss, representing the American Cancer Society, explained

that Steinberg then called upon her friend Bobbitt Williams to share the

duties. Williams had been active in American Cancer Society fund-raising

for almost 20 years.

“Now they are friends for life,” Leichtfuss said. “Three months into the

planning of The Cattle Baron’s Ball last year Barbara Steinberg was told

that she had breast cancer. The news was devastating.”

“I was able to catch the cancer early,” Steinberg said. She credits the

early detection to her own monthly self exams.

“I also got my mammograms,” said the event co-chair who spent most of the

year in and out of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

“Bobbitt stepped in and took over this event by the reigns and plowed

ahead,” continued Steinberg, happy to be alive and well and helping to

raise money to fight a disease she knows all too much about from a

first-hand perspective.

The massive Cattle Baron’s Ball, with its western theme, came to Orange

County two years ago under the direction of past American Cancer Society

chairman Bill Wood. He was on hand for the Newport Dunes festivities,

stating, “This ball is a way for local citizens to fight cancer, receive

a high return on their investment and have a rip-roaring time.”

As cheers were heard in the distance for pig races being staged at what

was called the “Porker Promenade Pig Race,” there was certainly no doubt

that Wood was on target.

The pig races were just the tip of the western iceberg. A mounted horse

brigade kicked off the evening, leading patrons into the

60,000-square-foot tent. Vegas-style entertainment was offered throughout

the evening in all corners of the cavern. Stunt shows, bull roping and

country western music added to the Wild West cattle baron’s theme.

Los Angeles area television sportscaster Ed Arnold handled the master of

ceremonies duties, with Charles Dreyer auctioning off the loot for cancer

research. A BMW Z3 Roadster was leased for a year, and a lucky Newport

Beach couple bought a trip to Thailand. Another cancer patron secured

lunch in Westwood with former UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden.

Generous underwriting for the party came from both the corporate and

private sector. Major local support to help fight cancer came from John

and Donna Crean, Judie and George Argyos, Kay and Jim Burra, Phyllis and

Dix Helland, Sandi and Doug Jackson, Steinberg and the Thomas Gepharts.

Ball committee members deserving ink include Carol Wilken, president of

the league, Marcia Adler, Laurie Beuselinck, Maile Busby, Pat Buttress,

Mary Ellen Hadley and Sharon Paisely. Faye Jones and Sharon Moore worked

tirelessly on the auction, and catering chores were handled by Phyllis

Shafer and Susan Johnson. The food stations were a highlight of the

evening.

Now if eating and dancing and conversation were not enough, Craig

Jones and Ron Rubino produced a major casino party for those who wanted

to do a bit of wagering for cancer research. Guests bet into the night

helping to raise nearly $750,000 to fight the disease, with more than

$500,000 coming from underwriting and sponsor support.

* B.W. COOK’S column appears Thursdays and Saturdays.