It’s all happening at the zoo

B.W. COOK

It was a welcome party introducing a new member of the community to

his neighbors. There was a difference, for the new member of our

community has come to Orange County from South America and happens to

be a monkey named Sazoo.

The good news is that he fits in just perfectly with all of the

rest of us. Sazoo’s welcome party unfolded recently at the Santa Ana

Zoo, where friends of the animal kingdom led by Newport’s Debbie and

Tom Newmeyer threw a magical evening under the stars, which has come

to be known as the annual summer Zoofari on the Riviera.

The Newmeyers joined other generous local underwriters including

the Howard Wilkensons, the Dell Staggs, the Donald Kennedys, Terry

Vance, June Adams, Marjorie Phillips, Dannielle Dorris, Steve Schmidt

and others to rally support for the care of the creatures living at

the Santa Ana Zoo.

As in years past, Zoofari has attracted its share of celebrity

animal lovers. Once again the beautiful Hollywood actress Tippi

Hedren graced the party and shared with the crowd her passion for

animal preservation. Hedren is acting “Den Mother” to some 60 big

cats, lions, tigers, leopards, elephants and other wild animals at

the Roar Foundation’s Shambala Preserve in the Angeles National

Forest outside of Los Angeles.

Also on hand for the celebration was actress Margaret O’Brien.

Hedren and O’Brien were lauded by Roseanne Bye, the dedicated chair

of Zoofari 2003. Roseanne and her husband Richard Bye were among the

generous table sponsors, greeting arriving guests including

underwriters Brian and Denice Mock, Barry and Cathi Hofstetter, Myron

Yeager, Brad Smith, and Kathleen and Chris Edman. The evening in the

wild animal kingdom at Prentice Park also welcomed gymnast and

acrobat Sasha Fedortchev who delighted the crowd swinging from the

vines and communing with the new neighbor Sazoo.

The evening featured a wonderful al fresco dinner provided by a

potpourri of local restaurants and caterers. Pat & Oscar’s provided

the salad and breadsticks. Jason’s Catered Events served freshly made

crepes. An entree of catfish encrusted with pecan was prepared by

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen.

If that wasn’t enough, a three-cheese pasta with blackened chicken

and sun-dried tomatoes was served by the Sun Dried Tomato Cafe.

Others participating were Valentino’s Belgian Chocolates, Parties by

Panache, Country Garden Caterers, Vox, Memphis and Tangata.

While the guests were mingling, an impressive silent and live

auction effort helped to bring in needed funds to help support the

zoo. The personable Chuck Dreyer served as auctioneer, with Wayne

Foster heading up the entertainment that kept the zoo crowd dancing

into the night.

John Floyd, executive director of the zoo was on hand with fellow

zoo directors and patrons including Judy Fluor Runels, Donel Wiles,

Otto Bade, Otis Heald III, Curtis Farrell and Douglas Raff.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.