The Crowd -- B.W. Cook
The third annual Aristeia Awards, presented by KOCE-TV, unfolded at
the Irvine Marriott Hotel, attracting a distinguished gathering of local
support intent on fostering the goals of public television.
More than 250 guests applauded KOCE-TV foundation board members Peggy
Goldwater Clay and Gloria Gae Gellman for their outstanding effort
chairing the gala dinner and ceremony. The two Newport Beach leading
ladies helped KOCE-TV raise an impressive $84,500, which will directly
benefit Orange County programming.
Accepting the Jo Caines Expanding Minds Award, a most prestigious
honor bestowed upon a community member by the local broadcaster, was
Harbor Island resident Mary Lyons. The eloquent and understated champion
of many Orange County causes accepted the award with dignity. Lyons was
joined by Pat Halberstadt, Ruben Smith, Frank Quevedo and Norman Watson,
all receiving 2002 Aristeia honors from KOCE-TV.
Pat Beckman, Marian and Garth Bergeson, Hildee and Gary Brahm, Shari
and Harry Esayian, Tom Harmon, Julie and Todd Hollander, Nora and Hal
Lehman, Belle and Jack Lindquist, Essie Pinsker, Donna and Ronald Phelps,
Betty Mower, Leslie Purdy, Ardelle St. George, Diane Sussman, Irv Gellman
and host Ed Arnold and his wife, Dixie, were among those joining forces
for public television. The highlight of the evening was the very
passionate address by KOCE Chairman Mel Rogers, attending the event with
his wife, Marcia.
* * *
Newport-Mesa parents and friends of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana
raised more than $200,000 at a recent benefit billed as Moonstruck
Western Roundup. More than 500 guests pitched in to make the evening a
success for the largest private Catholic school on the West Coast.
Costa Mesa’s dedicated Cheryl Law chaired the evening, along with
Denise Menichiello of Huntington Beach. A committee of 50 super
hard-working moms and dads worked with Law and Menichiello to present a
fabulous affair for the school.
Major support for the Mater Dei event came from Andrew Edwards,
Crevier BMW, South Coast Plaza, Trader Joe’s in Costa Mesa and the
William H. Hannon Foundation. Mater Dei is undergoing a major 50-year
anniversary remodel and expansion.
* * *
Northern Trust’s dynamic Mary Cook, spotted this weekend at the
super-successful Newport Beach Spring Antiques Show at the Newport Dunes,
reports that the recent Orange County Literary Society event featuring
Debora Silverman was another high point of the spring social season on
the Orange Coast.
Silverman, author of “Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Search for Sacred
Art,” explored the relationship between the two artists who met in Paris
and “sought a new form of expression.” The author is a professor of art,
culture and European history at UCLA. Her book was 10 years in the
making.
* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.
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