THE CROWD:Chapman marks 20 years of puttin’ on the Ritz

The 20th annual Christmas at the Ritz welcomed an overflow crowd of well-dressed and well-meaning supporters of Chapman University to what has become the most fashionable Christmas luncheon on the Orange Coast.

And it’s all very appropriate, since the luncheon is the holiday hallmark of one of Newport’s very visible women’s organizations — the Fashionable Women of Chapman.

The event was sentimentally chaired by Charlene Prager, widow of the late great Hans Prager, the former owner of the Ritz, Newport Beach who originally welcomed the Fashionables at Christmas two decades ago.

The torch has been passed to the new owner, Fred Glusman, who continues the charitable tradition with equal fervor. Charlene stood with Santa at the Ritz porte cochere, welcoming guests as they walked the red carpet, leading them to the Ritz Garden for noontime cocktails prior to the luncheon.

Leslie Cancellieri, president of the Fashionable Women with her husband Dino, was also on hand, along with distinguished O.C. couple Dorothy and Don Kennedy.

Both couples served as honorary chairs of the holiday gala. Also supporting the Chapman fund were Shelly Wankier Hupp — in memory of her mother June Wankier, a much admired O.C. woman — Nancy and Jim Baldwin, Zee Allred, Bob and Carolyn Waltos, Stan Hanson and Eve Kornyei, Sally and Randy Crockett, Patti and Jim Edwards, and Chapman board chair George Argyros and his wife Julianne.

Following a festive reception, the enthusiastic crowd of some 335 guests filled the Ritz dining rooms enjoying a luncheon of Glusman’s wild mushroom cappuccino soup and a seared tournedo of filet mignon.

The Rodnik Martini bar helped make the season bright, as exquisite models paraded the dining rooms showing off holiday treats from the jewelry showcases of Black, Starr & Frost at South Coast Plaza, to complement evening lingerie from sponsor and underwriter Frette.

Christmas at the Ritz has also established a well-deserved reputation for the incredible annual raffle prize drawing that features the most lavish gifts imaginable, including a grand prize this year from Black, Starr & Frost of a diamond and pearl ring valued at $21,750.

The big winner was Drago Gligic, who presented the fabulous ring to his lady Zee Allred, one of Chapman University’s most cherished trustees. By the way, last year at Christmas at the Ritz, Gligic won some four of the 20 raffle drawings. Next season, many of the guests are planning to have him purchase their tickets.

Some of the other prizes included donations from Valentino, South Coast Plaza, Saks Fifth Avenue, Donna Karan New York, Cartier, Bvlgari, Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island, Louis Vuitton, Aloha Airlines, Nordstrom and more.

It all meant one important thing: The Fashionable Women of Chapman raised $154,000 for the local university.

In the most fashionable holiday crowd were Lido Isle’s Joan Riach, Donna Bunce, Sandy Jackson, Twyla and Chuck Martin, Sue and Dave Hook, Rebecca McLarand, Alison McCormick with her mother Marion Pickens, Dori de Kruif, Kristina Dodge, Nancy Bunnett, Fritzie Williams, Debbie Simon, Betty Moss, Pat and Dick Allen, Linda and Ron Beale, Eric and Lila Nelson, Betty Belden Palmer, Rusty Hood, Nora and Jim Johnson, Sandra Brodie and Dan and Anne Manassero.

Also front and center for Chapman were Noel and Kathy Hamilton, Gene and Pat Hancock, Lucille and Albert Adams, Hyla Bertea, Adrienne Brennan, Otis and best-dressed Patricia Cranford, Charlotte Lerner, Sharon McNalley and Shirley Pepys.

Chapman president Jim Doti and his wife Lynn Pierson Doti joined fellow Chapman faculty and staff, including Linda White-Peters and her husband Ross, and Bob Bassett from the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

Proceeds from the holiday event are earmarked to support Chapman University’s Marion Knott Studios at the Dodge College.

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