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Star Turn
Co-chaired by box-office draws Ellen Golonski, the lady in red (with hubby Tom, PPU's board chair), and alum Jimmy Miller (agent to such stars as Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell and Tea Leoni!) in from L.A., Saturday's black-tie gave star shine a big push. It showcased 35 talented kids from PPU's Conservatory of Performing Arts. Stars of tomorrow, as we saw in a smashing Broadway revue produced by COPA's dean, Ron Allan-Lindblom. And, I do mean a knock-your-socks-off performance!
Except for the speechifying, you would've loved it ... the parade of gowns, the elegance, kids dressed as ushers escorting us to tables that were spiffed by Suzi Bennardo's classy top hat, white gloves and pearls centerpieces. Certainly, 520 guests did, perhaps because there was no kinda auction to stall the party's momentum.
Check out this playbill: honorary chairs Ann and Marty McGuinn; Nadine Bognar; Pittsburgh Opera's Mark Weinstein and Susanne Marsee; Bob Miller (playwright Arthur Miller's son); Carol Word and Bill Trueheart; Hilda and Dr. Freddie Fu; Kathleen and Dr. George White; Richard Rauh; Anna Marie and Rich Boyd; PPU's acting prez Paul Hennigan with Colleen and prez Katherine Henderson (still on sabbatical) with Tracy; Barbara and Dick Fisher; Carlow U. prexy Dr. Mary Hines; Downtown real estate developer Jack Piatt with Kathleen and Lucas Piatt with fiancee Renee Klaas; Susan and Mike Boyle; Joanie and Sam Kamin; Bonnie and Tom VanKirk; and John Bitzer.
Best supporting cast: Ranny and Jay Ferguson; Carol and Joe Massaro; Ellen and Dr. Loren Roth; Annie and Dennis Cestra; Marylouise Fennell; Fran and Jim Abraham; Jill and Alan Boarts; Angie Longo; Doreen Boyce; Aaron and Gloria Walton; Barbara and Dick Skrinjar; Nancy and Bill Rackoff; Charlotte and Hank Beukema; Charlie Quillin; Bonnie Tambellini and Al Cousin; Joanne and Dick Beyer; Violet and Judge Robert Gallo; Russ Kemerer and Beth Wainwright; and Gertrude and Dr. Paul Caplan.
| Grand Centra |
Could be that Saturday's Viking Victory Auction was themed "Grand Central Station" because it would take a Wabash Cannonball to haul the station load of goodies that went under the hammer to net-net $180,000 for Central Catholic High School.
What we have here is a loyalty that's the envy of every private school in the region. An all-lad bastion in Oakland run by the Christian Brothers, CCHS has a 78-year reputation for making the grade, as well as a highly competitive Quad A athletic program.
Chaired by Paul Apostolou ('60) and Marilyn, with the Martinis (Angelo, '58; Anthony, '81; Angelo, '83 and spouses) as co-chairs, the volunteer express had 850 guests waving their paddles over items such as a Lab puppy that went for $1,700 twice (the breeder added a second to the lot!).
Down by the station, we spotted CCHS principal Bro. Richard Grzeskiewicz ('62); emcee Mike Clark of WTAE-TV; Patti and John Staley ('61); Mary Ita and John McGonigle ('56); Dr. Chip Burke; hizzoner Bob O'Connor and Judy; Colleen and Brad Totten ('80); D.A. Steve Zappala ('75) and Mary; Lynn and Chip Desmone ('81); Annie and Kirk Freyvogel ('79); Nancy, Debbie and Jim Donahue ('69); Carol Lee and Richard Ponzio ('56); Kathy and Mark Lynch; Rich Hamilton ('63); Joe ('61) and son Michael Difiore ('82) with Nancy and Karen; and Jan Wagner with CCHS station master Jimmy Dunn ('54) at his sartorial best.
| Fashion Heats |
Priceless is the gift of life, and some 220 guests were reminded of the importance of giving and receiving life through organ donation. Saturday's utterly elegant fashion show and luncheon, hosted by Kaufmann's in its Downtown auditorium, turned up the volume on spring ... an April flower to the National Kidney Foundation's Donor Awareness Month. Taking a turn on the runway with Pittsburgh's top models showing stunning looks from play-to-night were those fortunate organ donor recipients and three remarkable transplant surgeons, Drs. Brack Hattler (with Jean Anne), Ron Shapiro and Eric Quivers.
Marsetta Schweiger (with Richard who's living with a new lung) co-chaired the day to raise funds for Team Pittsburgh heats in the 2006 U.S. Transplant Games during June 16-21 in Kentucky.
In the crowd of fashionables: Kaufmann's Angie Wezorek and Michele Garskie; Judi Vensak; Shelley Zomak; Jan Meade; Miriam Booth; Cookie Roberson; Samantha Scholl; Jane Barrett; Sandy Mordoh with Sydney and Madison; Emily and Bill Settino; Diane Bogut with Alexandra; Debbie Fazi with Danielle; and Catherine and Gordon Seaman.
| Children's Hour |
It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes an entire community to keep them from harm's way.
At Wednesday's heartwarming dinner in the Westin Convention Center ballroom, Family Resources, "a collection of hearts inspired to prevent child abuse," raised our awareness about ending this cycle of tragedy. A community mission that keeps them busy 24/7 ... on hot lines, in homes and at their Family Retreat Center.
Some special folks were singled out for their commitment to kids. Like Steelers Super Bowl coach Bill Cowher and Kaye with Michael Donnelly and Peggy Finnegan of WPXI-TV, the eve's honorary chairs. As well as State Sen. Jane Orie, Joseph Guyaux, Martha Perry, Penny Scarborough and Jennifer Mattey. And, most especially, those students from Fox Chapel High (including the Cowhers' lass Lauren) and Shady Side Academy who worked together on FR's "Take My Hand" campaign in their schools. For who better than kids to understand the cruelty of child abuse?
Among 500 family-friendly guests were FR director Dr. Walter Smith and Evelyn Savido, benefit chairs Diane and Dr. David Parker; Nancy Keegan; Elizabeth and Denis McCarthy; and Gayle and Bill Simpson with their twins Keally and Will who also were tapped as community champions.
| FAME |
Helping minority kids break the cycle of poverty through education is a very good idea, but not exactly a revelation. FAME (Fund for the Advancement of Minorities through Education) is both.
As we learned at Thursday's luncheon in the Duquesne Club, 51 promising students are receiving a first-rate education at Sewickley Academy, Winchester Thurston, Shady Side Academy, The Ellis School and St. Edmund's Academy. Neither was fame fleeting for 34 alums now enrolled in some of the best colleges in the country. Of the seven who have since graduated, three have returned here to work ... shining examples of FAME's mission which aims to increase the number of African Americans in leadership positions in our town.
Still at the top of his game, former Secretary of the Treasury and former chairman and CEO of Alcoa Paul O'Neill, brilliantly keynoted the program.
Other FAMEous friends included Peter Mathieson, presenting the Andrew Mathieson Award (named for his late, great father) to Saleem Ghubril of The Pittsburgh Project; Fred Fetterolf; C.A. and Ron Gebhardt; FAME prez Art Wood and director Connie Horton; Elsie Hillman; Dr. Helen Mathieson; Victor Roque; Andrew Elste; Jay Ferguson; and school heads Gary Niels (WT), Tom Southard (SSA), Mary Grant (ES), Susan Miller (SEA) and Kolia O'Connor (SA).
| Positive Reflections |
Basking in the good news of recent headlines, 300 alums and friends of North Catholic High School showed their true red and gold colors during Saturday's Trojan Triumph Auction at Heinz Field's West Club.
Aptly themed, "Reflections: Past, Present and Future" celebrated North's nearly 70-year history and welcomed the announcement that NCHS will open a new $25-million, state-of-the-art Cranberry area campus. School prez Frank Orga (with Marge) says look for classes to start in 2010 at the 20-plus acre site.
Apres dinner, emcee and auctioneer Bob Pompeani persuaded the faithful to open their wallets for a good cause. During the bidfest we spotted co-chairs Diane and Mark Minnaugh; principal Dr. Ed Schied with Rose; NFL Hall of Famer Dan Rooney with Pat; Dr. Robert Paserba and Henrietta; Terry and Jerry Fedele; Drs. James and Mary Lori Certo Rosetti; Darlyne and Joseph Kerin; Marianne and David Lyons; Diane and Tom Chakurda; and Teres and John Lucot.
-- John Altdorfer
