USC’s Turn to Honor Ueberroth

Since he first took on the job of masterminding the 1984 Olympic Games here, Peter Ueberroth’s life has been on a high roll. Once the Games were over, he accepted the job of commissioner of baseball, he made the cover of Time magazine as “Man of the Year” and he’s been wined and dined and celebrated everywhere.

Now it’s USC’s turn to pay tribute to the Olympic superman. SCAPA Praetor, a support group for the university’s School of Public Administration, has chosen Ueberroth as the recipient of the Julius (a scholarly Oscar). The presentation will come at the group’s third annual Ides of March dinner, a friendly roast and toast on March 14 at the Century Plaza Hotel. Mayor Tom Bradley and former President Gerald Ford were previous honorees.

John Argue, a former USC trustee and a 1984 Olympic Games organizer, will act as master of ceremonies. And the gentle barbs aimed in the direction of Ueberroth will come from panelists Harry Usher, Ueberroth’s second in command during the Olympics and now commissioner of the United States Football League; USC and Olympic baseball coach Rod Dedeaux; television commentator Donna de Varona; and Olympic gold medalist John Naber. The dinner program, coordinated by dinner committee member Walter Hoefflin, will include the USC Trojan Band led by USC and Olympics band director Dr. Arthur C. Bartner; a video presentation; and the appearance of some distinguished athletes, among them Bruce Jenner, Olympic decathalon champion.

Putting the evening together are dinner chairmen Margaret Brock, Southern California Edison’s Howard P. Allen, Arco’s Rodney Rood, and past LAOOC chairman Paul Ziffren. And among the sponsors are Dr. Armand Hammer, Tom Johnson, Ray Watt, John Bedrosian, Dr. Carl Franklin and Ross Clayton, dean of the USC School of Public Administration. The evening will benefit the school’s scholarship and student aid program.

The High Life: Barry Taper and Louise Siegal met, fell in love and are now planning to marry. The date? “As soon as possible,” said Taper the other night, refusing to be pinned down.

Good pal Carlo Celoni of Gucci’s gave the engagement party, starting with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres (by Canterbury Fare’s Tony O’Meara) at his New York-style apartment with a view, followed by dinner at Le Restaurant where owner Bruce Vanderhoff arranged a cascade of tiny pineapples, kumquats, peaches and other fruit down almost the entire length of the table.

Barry’s sister Janice and her husband, Henri Lazarof, and Marilyn and Stephen Gilfenbain were there just for cocktails. The rest stayed happily through the entire evening. At Le Restaurant there were applause and champagne toasts when Barry and Louise blew out the candles on the high-rising chocolate mousse engagement cake from the likes of Dr. and Mrs. Oscar Magdison, Bea Stern and her son Jeffrey, Dr. and Mrs. Morey Parkes, Francine Maroney, Marilyn Katleman, Ginny Hirsh and Mort Steinberg.

The bride-to-be looked ethereal in palest peach jersey and the future bridegroom looked extremely happy.

First hair stylist Julius Bengtsson celebrated his birthday in high style in Washington. Robin Weir, who owns the “in” hair styling shop in the capital (and does the First Lady’s hair when Julius is not in town), hosted the first part of the birthday hoopla at Le Pavillon. David Ellsworth did the flowers and the restaurant served champagne with the duck pate, foie gras and lobster. Rose Narva took over later, hosting the birthday dinner at the Hay-Adams Hotel. Celebrating with Julius were the Swedish Ambassador and Countess Wilhelm Wachtmeister; outgoing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Mike Deaver with his wife, Carolyn; former Ambassador and Mrs. David Smith; Jane Ikard; Jim Rosebush, Nancy Reagan’s chief of staff, and his wife; Elaine Crispin, Mrs. Reagan’s special assistant, and Sally Struthers and the cast of “The Odd Couple,” which is playing at the Kennedy Center.

The turnout for the opening of the Chanel boutique on Rodeo Drive was a smash, drawing neighbors, celebrities, socialites in droves. And all of them admiring the decor and the merchandise. Ellen Byrens was wearing a red mink. Contessa Cohn made a dashing entrance and exit. And visible in the crush: Grace and Merrill Lowell, designer Jean Louis, producer Hall Bartlett, Carlo Celoni, Mrs. Dennis Stanfill, Aida Grey, Tina Chow, Ellen Pollon, Marion and Florence Malouf, Robinson’s Michael Gould and his wife, Karen; Bullocks Wilshire’s Jerry Nemiro; the Rodeo Collection’s Daryoush Mahboubi Fardi. Hosting the party for Chanel--president Kitty d’Alessio, chairman Alain Wertheimer, senior vice presidents Dorianne Destenay and Charles Phillips and the local boutique’s executive director, Jack Matthess.

Liza Minnelli is throwing an opening night party for pianist Michael Feinstein at the New Cafe Mondrian at Le Mondrian Hotel on Sunset. It’s tonight and the dress code is “Fun ‘n Fancy.”