Three on a mission to save the Mission

Three prominent Newport Beach women with hearts as broad as their

smiles joined formidable forces to chair “Romance of The Mission,” a

gala fund-raiser for the preservation of Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Cecilia Nott, Ann Raney and Janet Curci Walsh chaired the recent

celebration that attracted hundreds of local supporters under the

auspices of Friends of the Mission, which is led by the dedicated

Electa Anderson.

The Mission Preservation Foundation Board considers the task of

saving the Mission a project tantamount to preserving what they call

“The American Acropolis.”

“The Mission is the birthplace of Orange County infused with more

than 220 years of glorious and turbulent history. It is our story and

our heritage,” Lido peninsula’s Nott said, attending the gala with

husband Bruce.

Museum administrator Gerald Miller was on hand to welcome and

thank honorary chairs Sandy Segerstrom Daniels and John Daniels for

their generous underwriting of the event. The Daniels family shared

the special occasion with their daughter, Tiffany.

Another pair of very generous donors were Dick Marconi and

Priscilla Moore, joining John Dravinski, Nella Webster, Erin

Honeycombe, Heathyr Manclark, Joycelyn Lutter, and Bruce and Cecilia

Nott’s daughters Tracy Gottlieb of Lido Isle and Amy Nott of Newport

Coast.

The evening began with a reception at the great stone church

monument and Mission gardens with hors d’oeuvres served by Chef John

Rivera Sedlar of Sedlar Southwest Kitchen. Grilled pineapple and

melon salsa served in molcajetes, a Mexican mortar, were passed to

guests along with dried Spanish chorizo and Manchego cheese served on

eggplant olive tapenade crostini.

At dusk, the black-tie crowd moved to the main courtyard of the

Mission for an official welcome. Dinner was served as the final sun

set to the west with Chef Christian Rassinoux of the Ritz Carlton,

Laguna Niguel, collaborating with Sedlar on a very special

presentation of California cuisine.

Jim Dale served as master of ceremonies and auctioneer, with

dancing in the courtyard continuing late into the evening.

The event was also supported by Orange County developer Anthony

Moiso, with wife Melinda. Anthony Moiso is president of the

preservation board, which receives participation and support from

prominent Orange County citizens, including Wylie Aitken, N.

Christian Anderson, R.J. Brandes, William Cvengros, Michael Hagan,

Robert McDonough, George O’Connell, Russell Penniman and Myron Sukut.

The evening at the Mission has become one of the most elegant and

popular events of the late summer on the California Riviera. The

blending of historical and spiritual aspects of the occasion creates

a tone that exudes a most positive and warm community association. A

few of the lovely Newport ladies spotted in the crowd were Mary

Roosevelt, Barbara Carr, Kathy Taylor, Wendy Cantor, Janet Ayres,

Sandi Jackson, Elaine Delman, Mary Anna Jeppe, and the beautiful Mary

Buckingham.