OUR LAGUNA: Vintage hats are off to seniors

The Legacy Ball Committee didn’t just pick names out of a hat to honor Friday night at [seven-degrees] — although it would have had some dandy chapeaus from which to choose.

A sell-out crowd raided storage closets and resale shops for vintage formal wear for the presentation of Laguna Legacy Awards to vintage trio Louise Buckley, the Rev. Colin Henderson and Pauline Walpin for their contributions to the community.

“I couldn’t be more excited than about the three people who are honored tonight,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider, honorary chair of the event, which raised funds for Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. operations.

The ball netted about $46,000.

“We rode on the heels of the success of the event last year and more than doubled the income from the first Legacy Ball,” said event Chair Terri Johnson.

Schneider introduced the honorees, all of whom were given a standing ovation.

Buckley has been a volunteer for the seniors since the day she moved to Laguna in 1994. She quickly found herself on committees, helping to publish and distribute the seniors’ newsletter, “The Boardwalk,” and soon a board member.

The notion of a senior center crystallized during Buckley’s tenure as president of the seniors.

“My mother always said, ‘don’t start what you can’t finish,’ ” Buckley said. “The senior center was my goal.” The diminutive Canadian-born Buckley has been an active volunteer since she was 10, selling sand bags door-to-door to raise funds for a community swimming pool. She served in the U.S. Women’s Army Air Corps in World War II.

She had an illustrious career with Lockheed as a travel agent and agency co-owner, married, had children, was widowed and through it all continued to volunteer.

Buckley is a member of the Laguna Beach Garden Club, the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club, the Exchange Club, American Legion and the Chamber of Commerce.

Henderson didn’t need much of an introduction, Schneider said.

He is well known in town for his years at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, a tireless worker on behalf of the homeless population in Laguna and founder of Friendship Shelter.

He came to Laguna in 1985 with more than 20 years of experience as a parish priest in his native England.

While developing programs for the homeless at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church — it was the city’s first day labor hiring center — he became involved in establishing a homeless center to address long- and short-term needs.

Friendship Shelter opened in November 1988.

Henderson claims to have retired in 1997, but he continues to be active in the shelter, as well as Sally’s Fund, local homeless issues and at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Irvine.

“Laguna is an amazingly generous city,” Henderson said. “You give and give and give to make my dreams come true, and then I go and get the award.”

Walpin has lived in Laguna the longest of the three honorees. She moved here in 1972.

Her focus has been on assistance to the under-served.

A consultancy to South Coast Medical Center, then South Coast Hospital, led to a staff position. She coordinated Meals on Wheels and helped organize Fish, the first volunteer transportation program for seniors.

Walpin served as Laguna Beach Community Clinic president, on the board of directors that developed federal senior housing in South Laguna and on the board that developed housing for disabled and HIV-positive tenants at Hagan Place, converted from the old telephone company building caddy corner to the community/senior center being constructed on Third Street.

She was a member of the Vision 2030 Committee, has belonged to the Assistance League of Laguna Beach since 1990, served as president of Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. in 2003-05 and now as a member of the outreach committee.

“Last year, the committee honored one man and one woman, but there was no way we could choose between Pauline and Louise,” said event committee member Emily Quilter, whose family has devoted the past several years to raising funds for the senior center.

The center is named Suzy Q, the pen name of the late Coastline columnist Elizabeth Quilter, Emily’s grandmother, whose sons donated $750,000 toward the construction of the building. Liz’s daughter-in-law Ann co-chairs the capital fund-raising drive with Darcy Bickel.

“We have raised $2.5 million for the seniors’ share of the center,” said Ann, looking like a million dollars in a dress filched from her mother’s closet. “It couldn’t happen without the wonderful people here tonight.”

Vintage wine ages well. So do vintage people and some fashions and they were both displayed to advantage at the Legacy Ball.

Emily Quilter wore a dress given to her by her grandmother and a fabulous necklace left to her by “Grandma Wiz.” Liz’s son, Matthew, went for the mobster look — black suit and shirt, with a white tie and black and white patent leather shoes.

His brother, Chris, newly elected seniors’ president, wore a traditional white dinner jacket, while his eldest sibling, Charles, complained that he couldn’t find his heliotrope cummerbund.

Michelle Boyd’s raw silk dress came out of the closet after 18 years.

“Kelly [Councilman Boyd] bought it for me at a fund-raising auction and I never wore it,” she said.

Martha Lydick and Peggy Ford shopped in the Orange Circle for their vintage hats. A tiara topped Sandi St. John’s prom queen outfit.

Bree Burgess Rosen, who sang, served as auctioneer and donated a wine tasting with Peter Jones and entertainment by her, wore black, sequined lace.

Morris Skenderian’s dinner jacket was embellished by the late artist Pat De Mar.

Schneider was red-carpet glamorous in a black strapless dress, gathered at the hips, flowing down to a train — which she managed nicely on the dance floor while taking a turn with Judge John Adams.

Adams and his mother, Marjorie, were seated at the South Coast Medical Center table. He is a member of the SCMC Foundation Board.

Also at the table: foundation office coordinator Karen Alonge, SCMC ENT specialist Dr. Robert Pettis and foundation patient outreach coordinator Kate Tschudin.

The guest list also included Michael and Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman, Andy and City Clerk Martha Anderson, John and Peggy Pietig, Duane Bickel, Dr. Roger Ohanesian, Marilyn Ditty, Kyle Butterwick, Dave Sanford, Jim and Karen McBride (high bidders on trip to Hawaii), and Bea Field, a member of the ball committee, which also included Michelle Clark, Steve Dotoratos, Maggie Hempen, Pamela Horowitz, Kay Kearny, Lee Kucera, Elaine Mertz, Francine Scinto, Ginny Skelton and Carole Zavala.

Credit due

The March 14 Our Laguna did not include the name of Josh Nolan as a partner of Jackie and Ray Haworth when On Consignment first opened. Nolan was later bought out by the Haworths, who owned the store until 1995.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.