Happy Hobnobbers!
Rollicking by the River
“Rolling on the river,” is a popular lyric, but for this group, it was “jumping.”
Presented by Landis Construction, the Preservation Resource Center’s 43rd Julia Jump found a happy site in the River Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans. Stupendous sights, too, as guests overlooked the Mighty Mississippi.
“Black tie encouraged” set the JJ dress mode, while the jazz duo of Gordon Towell & Hunter Burgamy created the musical mood for the one-hour-plus patron party. During that time, bubbly and hors d’oeuvres were proffered as patrons and sponsors schmoozed and enjoyed an exclusive “first look” at items from the “Jumping Through the NOLA Seasons” auction and raffle. At the Landis-presented Jump, The Four Seasons presented the food fare. Roasted duck, a Southern grits bar, an array of spring salads, coq au vin, and a suite of sweets pleased every palate. Kern Studios did the décor and FIAT Nola, the flowers.
To launch the levity, Vivian Grandal and Ashleigh Taylor combined chairing forces. They were duly praised. Individual sponsors and patrons were the two of them along with their husbands, Dan Grandal and John Taylor, as well as Kathryn and Gordon McLeod, Kathy and Randy Opotowsky, Charles Urstadt and David Bernard, Ralph and Susan Brennan, Laurie Ellis Doyle, Stacy and Jeremy Head, King and June Logan, and Lesley Poché.
Those in attendance, and countless others, such as Landis CEO Anne Teague Landis, rallied around the silent auction and its luxury vacations. Meanwhile, the above “Season” raffle featured 12 curated packages reflecting the many seasons of the Crescent City: Mardi Gras, crawfish, snowball, football, etc. Packages included art, trips, designer clothes, health and wellness treatments, and more.
More noted names — and most of the folks were spotted — were patrons from the Ansley Marshall group, Leslie Bouie, Ayame and Carling Dinkler, Ben Dupuy, Jessie and Beau Haynes, Odom Heebe Jr., Sarah and Marshall Hevron, Barbara Lacen Keller, Sarah Martzoff, Mark Mintz and Jen Kitner, Elisa Cool Murphy, Julia Schweizer, David and Suse Wagstaff, and Catherine Witry and Todd Riché.
Katie Witry is the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans board president, succeeding Leslie Bouie. Charles Urstadt is the vice president and Leslie Schott Haynes and Hartley M. Crunk, the respective secretary and treasurer. At-large are Clay Colton, Carling Dinkler IV, Margaret Glass, Chris Kornman, and Aulston Taylor. The PRC’s board of 20 includes some of the above patrons. And answering to executive director is Danielle del Sol.
As the festivities ensued, so did the musical momentum. It was set by The Topcats, billed as “the little band with the big sound,” who made sure that the dance floor was filled and the Julia Jump-ers boogied to their beat.
Concurrent with the Julia Jump was the Project Lazarus annual Guardian Angel Award Gala at the Ace Hotel, chaired by Sister Judy Gomila and Danny Akers. Project Lazarus is “a transitional housing facility for people living with HIV/AIDS who have nowhere else to go.” The 2022 Guardian Angel awardees were Jane Wilbert, Gary Schiro, and posthumously, Cleveland Guillot. Former executive director Steve Rivera, who died a year ago, was honored with the Pawell-Desrosier Award. Top names on the PL masthead are Archbishop Gregory Aymond, board chair Gregory Domingue, Danny Akers, Richard Weibelt and Meghan DeCuir. Jeffrey Entwisle is the Archdiocesan liaison and Susanne B. Dietzel, Ph.D, the executive director.
Returning after a two-year hiatus, the gala featured a cocktail hour and a silent auction, an elegant three-course meal, an award ceremony, a high-end live auction, music by the Ted Long Trio, and a performance by Robyn Charles, the daughter of legendary Ray Charles.
Alumni Laurels
“We want to make the world a better place,” said Tulane University President Mike Fitts at the university’s recent Alumni Awards Gala, its 48th. The presenter was LifeBridge Health and the venue, The National WWII Museum U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center. “Black tie” was optional as the dress code.
After a half hour reception that began at 7 p.m., Tulane Alumni Association President Christopher K. Ralston, L ’99, and the above Mike Fitts stepped forward to welcome the gathering. “How wonderful it is to be back in person,” began Ralston, who in turn was complimented by Fitts for all of his hard work. Ralston then cited the people who were about to be honored for their legacy and president Fitts added, “The awardees tonight are models for what we want our students to be.” He continued saying about the laureates, “What a difference you’ve made. As we honor you, you honor Tulane.”
Spotlighted as outstanding alumni were Neil M. Meltzer, PHTM ’81, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and President and CEO, LifeBridge Health; James R. Andrews, M.D., R ’72, Tulane Medical Alumni Association; Michael D. Rubenstein, JD, B ’90, L ’93, the Bobby Boudreau Spirit Award; (by video) Hanan al-Ahmadi, DrPH, PHTM ’89, International Award for Exceptional Achievement; Deidre D. Hayes, DSW, SW ’90, Scott Cowen Service Award; and Joseph M. Kanter, M.D., M ’10, PHTM ’10, Lisa Jackson Professional Achievement Award.
The final two awards were presented to Catherine Deming Pierson, G ’78, SW ’89, and Wayne J. Lee, JD, A&S ’71, L ’74. Hailed as the Dermot McGlinchey Lifetime Achievement awardee, Cathy Pierson remarked after receiving her recognition, “Tulane has been a part of our (her family’s) lives as long as I can remember.” The first women to chair Tulane’s board, she added how proud she was of serving on the committee that selected the university’s immediate past president, Scott Cowen, and hailed all of his leadership post Hurricane Katrina. Wayne Lee, the Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, and credited as a “first” in many ways, said his advice to the next generation is “Take advantage of opportunities.”
The museum’s vast space featured stage decorations of Tulane floral arrangements and banners, while video images played on the screen. Dunn & Sonnier did the floral designs in TU colors of white (hydrangeas and roses), blue (delphinium) and green (foliage.) American Sector Catering served a pear salad, a duo of beef tenderloin and Gulf fish, and Bananas Foster cheesecake. The bar featured Sazerac-label cocktails, as well as beer and wine. For the musical deserts, the Harry Hardin Quintet rose to the occasion.
Making their rounds and applauding the awardees were Pamella Lee with Wayne, Hunter Pierson with Cathy, Alanna Rosenberg Kanter with Joseph, Calvin Johnson with wife Deidre Hayes, TU Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Robin Forman, David and Catherine Edwards, Celia Weatherhead, former TAA president Robert E. Young, Jenny and Bob Kottler, and Fionuala McGlinchey and husband Charles Monsted IV. To name a few. All were delighted with the party favors. They were custom cookies with the Tulane emblem and Champagne flutes from Kate’s Custom Cookies of Covington.
Source: https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/society/article_f1eea630-e6a5-11ec-8c28-4bcd29370aec.html