It was indeed a "Night to Remember" for guests at the 17th annual fund-raiser for St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Foundation: Friday night, two-time Grammy award winner Peabo Bryson gave thrills and chills to the ladies and gents at the Valentine Theatre.
An accordion player serenaded guests as they arrived past a receiving line into an enchanting evening. A sea of pink, red, and purple flowers, hearts, musical notes, and sheer fabrics set the romantic scene along with sparkling ice sculptures and lots of candlelight. Station dining held delectable edibles and rose petals were scattered on tables. There were a few new twists this year: The event was changed to Friday night instead of Saturday night and the dress code went from black tie to cocktail attire. Adding to the decor were several lovely looking ladies including Lisa Lay, in a flirty new cocktail dress that caught many an eye. She was there with her hubby, Brad Lay, looking mighty fine. Traci Schwann was a looker too in a sexy number. She was with her husband, Tom Schwann.
Lots to do during dinner under a giant tent. Silent auction packages tempted shoppers. Key Lay, there with Rose Richards, was all smiles over winning the bid on a school scholarship basket.
Program time! Everyone retired into the theatre. Foundation president Tony Werner welcomed everyone. Honorary chairmen Howard Madigan and his wife, Mary, were introduced. Dr. Madigan, retired, was given a glass award for his excellence in promoting medical education at St. V's.
Event chairmen Imran and Reema Andrabi and Ameer and Salma Kabour, were assisted by more than a dozen committee members. Drs. Andrabi and Kabour told the audience that the proceeds will be used to acquire Human Patient Simulators, computer-driven full-sized mannequins that mirror human responses so medical staff can learn and practice diagnostic and treatment skills.
Following was a quick, five-item live auction that included a Hawaii vacation donated by Minda Te and Ramon Taroy; Lasik Eye Surgery from Reed Vision; golf at Muirfield in Dublin, Ohio; a 2007 convertible Mustang GT lease from Mathews Ford, and a glass sculpture by Matt Paskiet. Roosevelt Gant and Gail Tate were delighted to win the Spider Web creation.
Then show time! Bryson wooed the audience as he sang favorites such as "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" and "Tonight I Celebrate My Love." The ladies' man gave out three dozen roses while singing.
An afterglow followed with gourmet coffee and sinfully delicious desserts. But best of all, Mr. Bryson gave autographs, posed for photos, and hugged ladies. Many guests used their complimentary Peabo CD "The Very Best of Peabo Bryson" for the autographs.
Among the nearly 500 guests who paid $250 for top seats or $150 for regular seats, were Tony and Mia Armstrong, Buzz and Mary Ziegler, Barbara and Mike Berebitsky, Jane Larsen, Kathy and Zach Zacharias and daughter Claudia, Janet and Dennis LeGolvin, Pat and Len Bullard, Nancy Smythe, Mark and Gretchen Zyndorf, Donna Harris and James Temple, Joanie and Michael Barrett, Tom and Denise Colturi, Tim and Sally Goligoski, George and Cheryl Karagiorge, Dave and Joan Katz, Terry and Katie Loh, Karen Merrels, Karen and Carlton Fraker, Carolyn Hill and John Horn, Stephen and Rachelle Reed, Jim and Joan King, and Ian King and wife, Teresa, who received a rose from Peabo during the concert.
Also enjoying the evening was medical center CFO, Samantha Platzke, who is interim CEO of St. V's. She was there with her husband, Scott. Steve Mickus, president and CEO of Mercy Health Partners, which is over St. V's, was there too, with his wife, Gwen. They were visiting with foundation chairman Mark Luetke, his wife, Sandy, St. Anne hospital president Richard Evens and his wife, Peggy, and John Hayward, president of Mercy College, who was with his wife, Jeannie.
The expected net is more than $100,000, which will benefit the graduate medical education at the hospital's center.
The lush and quiet woodlands of Camp Miakonda Saturday night was the perfect setting for Fantasy Fest in the Forest gala to benefit Diabetes Youth Services.
Guests passed over the main bridge decorated with twinkle lights along the path to the main lodge for the gala. Doreen Robideaux and The Wrecking Crew band salted the evening with just enough spice as guests mingled. Seen were Suzanne and Dennis Witherell, Anna Miller, Julie and Joe Young, Joe Sharp,Vicki Bleckner, Judy and Kevin McFarland, Jeanne Schoen, and Kevin and Kate Kelly. It was nostalgia for Ken Laurer, there with his wife, Joy. Mr. Laurer came to camp Miakonda many, many moons ago.
Tents outdoors held tasty treats and stations for making masks. Dennis Weigel mesmerized guests with his magic. A station run by DYS children showed how to check blood sugar. Working hard were Lori Schoen, Les and Ellen Breininger, and Janet Adams.
Among the more than 170 guests on the scene were Becca Tipton Gorman, president of the Junior League, who was there with league member Margo Estes; the League has provided support to the cause. Also seen were Anne and John Eddingfield, and John Bolster, head of Miakonda's operations. He was with his wife, Rae Jean. Patricia Presser, there from the Lucas County Sheriff's Department as security, has a daughter with diabetes and said DYS has really helped her family deal with the situation. Indoors, one could leisurely feast on fabulous foods, or find something to buy at the silent auction including art, dinner and sports packages, jewelry - a topaz necklace - a trip to Aruba, and more. A brief program with emcee Fred Lefebvre, board president Marcia Hoeck, and Jim Gildea, board member, discussed the organization.
DYS was formed in 1984 to teach children to manage their diabetes and to offer support to their families. DYS also provides an educational summer camp for the more than 3,000 children in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan living with Type 1 diabetes.
In a nearby cabin, the Ohio State vs. Texas game was on TV. It cost a $1 donation to enter, but who could say no to DYS children?
Chairman Mary Beth Schoen was helped by the committee, including Tony Barone, June Effler, Candy Gildea, Kathy Hendricks, Kathie Johnson, Ann Kisin, Molly Kwiatkowski, Julie Pompa, Gloria Tisdale, and Carolyn Newell Turner. The net is more than $16,000, and the organization is still counting, said treasurer Tim Eichenauer.
There was plenty of treasure at the Lobster Fest and Treasure Island Hunt presented by the Toledo Symphony League Friday night. A bar in the shape of a pirate ship, torches, conch shells and coconuts, and jewels and nuggets of gold buried in sand set the scene at Nazareth Hall. Adding just the right touch was the nearly full moon under which guests sipped concoctions outdoors.
Kim and Gerry Danes were dressed as pirates as was Teri Tomase, there with hubby, Tim. A '41 Packard on display drew the interest of many guests, including Ford and Phyllis Cauffiel, who have a classic car collection of their own. Elaine Canning and Dan Kory took the "scenic" route, so they were definitely ready for refreshments. Also enjoying the outdoors were Fran and Dick Anderson, talking to Greg and Sherry Hendel.
Taking cover inside, a sit-down dinner was at tables centered with glittery palm trees with shells, sand, and candles.
Shrimp cocktail garnished with scallops and a tasty salad were served, and a buffet held giant lobsters with all the trimmings. For those who needed help cracking the safe - the lobster - Jeff Robert made his rounds. An X marked the spot, that is, on any corks with an X, and that meant the holder received a bottle of vino.
A treasure chest held bottles with notes inside that guests could purchase for chances to win raffle prizes.
Beth Bowman, dressed as a pirate, led a live auction to pirate away the Toledo Symphony from its maestro and be its guest conductor during one of this season's performances. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bowman's husband, Ted, sporting a "Jolly Roger" tattoo on the back of shiny pate, conducted a cell phone bid for Garth Tebay, who was not present. Mr. Tebay won the bid for $1,000 against Bob Bettinger. Graciously Mr. Bettinger said if the Symphony would provide another opportunity for another guest-maestro gig, he would pay the same price.
But alas, no baton.
Shiploads of sinful chocolate finished the meal, leading the crew to burn off the extra calories on the dance floor.
Showing he had no peg legs was Marv Robon, there dancing with wife, Nancy. They were celebrating because he and his law partner Greg Elder won a settlement for more than $2 million in Fulton County for one of their clients.
Seen were George and Pat Eistetter, Jim and Mary Ann Kline, Marlene and Bill Garbe, Don and Ann Lieder, Pam and Allen Pilz, Peg Werner, Trina and Michael McGivern, Betsy and Tom Brady, Lori and Glenn Paton, Sue and Don Speck, June and Sam Sloan, Sue Lovett, Kathy and Chuck Reynolds, Bob and Carol Fox, Barb and Jay Shenk, Tony and Madlyn Pizza, and Margaret Doresco.
Event chairman Linda Szymanski and league president Zana Sandys were both dressed in pirates' gear. With dollar signs glistening in their eyes, the "pirates" estimated that the event's net is nearly $5,000 in booty for the league. But they are still counting the gold.
First Published September 11, 2006, 2:29 p.m.
