Caltech Associates Plan Get-Together
It’s big money we’re talking about here.
The Associates of Caltech raise $2 million yearly. The Caltech President’s Circle does even better. That group’s contribution to the ongoing work at Caltech is $5 million.
But monetary matters aside, it’s time to mention the Associates’ big annual black-tie reception and dinner. This year it’s on Oct. 15 and the featured speaker at Caltech’s Athenaeum will be Roger B. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of General Motors, who joined the Caltech board last year. Smith originated the GM Cancer Research Awards in 1978 and is chairman of GM’s Cancer Research Foundation, which recognizes “basic and clinical scientists throughout the world for hallmark accomplishments in cancer research.”
The early (it starts at 5:30 p.m.) reception will give members of the President’s Circle a chance to meet and chat with Smith and his wife. And then the Associates will carry on with dinner and speeches. The bright crowd that night will include such Associates board members as Arthur Adams, Dr. and Mrs. James Caillouette, Merle Kingsley, Sharon and Donald Wright, the Robert Henigsons, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Zurbach and Hannah Bradley. Plus Associates members like the Robert Bannings, George Page, Dr. and Mrs. Lee DuBridge, Mrs. Frederick Larkin and Mrs. Ulric Bray. Among the trustees you’ll certainly recognize Caltech President and Mrs. Marvin L. Goldberger who’ll have the Walter Oppenheimers as their guests, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wetzel and the Arnold Beckmans. Serving as officers for the Associates are president Richard L. Hayman, vice presidents Robert Henigson and Joanna Muir, secretary Patricia Sigmon and treasurer Howard Marshall III.
Kenny Rogers, who’s returning to Denver’s Carousel Ball for the second time as the headliner, and his wife Marianne will receive the Diabetes Foundation of Denver’s 1985 High Hopes Award from Barbara and Marvin Davis. And although Davis no longer has his 20th Century Fox power base, having sold the studio to Rupert Murdoch, his movie star ratio for the Columbus Day event is still awesome. (It can’t hurt that there are rumors circulating around Tinseltown that Davis has been talking to financier Herb Siegel, chairman of Chris-Craft Industries, about Siegel’s 30% interest in Warner Communications.)
Davis’ political clout is also considerable. Consider that former President and Mrs. Gerald Ford are attending the gala along with Sens. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Gary Hart of Colorado.
And here’s just a partial list of some of the stars planning to make the trek to chilly Denver where it snowed just a few days ago--Cary Grant, Richard Dreyfuss, Merv Griffin (he’s the evening’s master of ceremonies), Lucille Ball, Mary Martin, Milton Berle, Erik Estrada, Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Hamilton who has surfaced socially since he was signed on for “Dynasty,” Michael Landon, Linda Gray, Engelbert Humperdinck, Kate Jackson, Connie Stevens, Morgan Brittany, Diahann Carroll who may or may not arrive with best friend Vic Damone, “Miami Vice’s” Philip Michael Thomas, Fred and June MacMurray and Robert Sterling and his wife Anne Jeffreys who’ve been there a few times before.
At the close of its Washington fund-raising campaign, the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine (it was formerly known as the National Jewish Hospital/National Asthma Center) will present L.A.’s Frederick R. Weisman with its Humanitarian of the Year Award at a gala ball at the Washington Hilton on Nov. 6. The honorary co-chairmen for the event are Gov. Charles Robb of Virginia, Gov. Harry Hughes of Maryland and Washington Mayor Marion Barry.
Weisman founded and heads the Frederick Weisman Co., which includes Mid-Atlantic Toyota Distributors in Maryland and Global Airways of Los Angeles. A knowledgeable collector of 20th-Century art, Weisman is also a Music Center patron, serves on the board of the County Museum of Art, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is on the national board of the Devereux Foundation, which is devoted to medical research and the care of physically and emotionally handicapped children and adults.
The Social Scramble: Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson are working hand in hand with San Marino florist Milo Bixby on the decor for the Princess Grace Foundation Gala on Nov. 3.
Down in Laguna Beach’s Emerald Bay, Aria and DeVillo Brown turned back the clock with a black-tie party for 240 of their favorite California friends. Out under the stars they re-created the Cocoanut Grove with its palm trees and white flowers (by Allen Beck Florist) and Ron Rubin and his 10-piece band and his vocalist played and sang just like Freddie Martin and his orchestra did in the Grove’s golden years. And Catering by Culinary Classics of Laguna Beach tossed away the calorie counter and served beef wrapped in boneless veal, potato truffle souffle and chocolate mousse.
Red Letter Days: This evening, when the Theatre Group (in collaboration with the Center Theatre Group and UCLA) opens the doors of its new home, the James A. Doolittle Theatre in Hollywood, with a “theater warming.” Drinks, hors d’oeuvre plus the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band and other entertainment.
Sunday, when the Associates of the Center for the Partially Sighted host the premiere of Sam Shepard’s Obie Award-winning play, “Fool for Love,” at the new Los Angeles Theatre Center. (The Obie is the Village Voice’s equivalent of the Tony and is given to off-Broadway and off-off Broadway shows.) The Associates end the evening with wine and buffet nibbles. Geri Sherman is chairwoman for the theater party committee, which includes Laura Borsten, Sylvia Lindenberg, Helen Sonderling and Isobel Tenzer.
Wednesday, when Dr. Armand Hammer, the Occidental Petroleum Corp. and the president and the board of the County Museum of Art host a reception and preview at the museum of the exhibition “Leonardo to Van Gogh: Master Drawings From Budapest.”
Wednesday, in New York where publisher Judith Price celebrates her Avenue magazine’s 10th anniversary at a dinner in the Museum of the City of New York.
Sunday, when the Museum of Contemporary Art, better known as MOCA, invites friends to view the construction progress of its permanent home on Bunker Hill and to partake of refreshments at Stepp’s restaurant.
Tuesday, when the Filmgroup Associates and British Film Year salute Susan George on the 20th anniversary of her “distinguished film career” at a reception in the home of Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul General and Mrs. Donald Ballentyne.
Tuesday, when Cole of California, the swim and sportswear firm that’s lived through “prohibition, the Depression, the Hula Hoop, the baby boom, the atomic bomb, Vietnam, birth control and the women’s movement, home computers and aerobics” marks its 60th anniversary at a cocktail party in the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Crystal Room. The hosts would be thrilled if their guests were to show up wearing 1920’s attire. Just for old time’s sake.
Oct. 18, when the Swedish Club of L.A. honors Swedish Consul General Margareta Hegardt at dinner in the Ambassador Hotel’s Embassy Ballroom.
And again on Oct. 18 when the Northridge Hospital Development Assn. has Neil Sedaka singing at its “Steppin’ Out” black-tie dinner dance at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The evening benefits the Western Center for Hyperbaric Medicine.
