Hoag Backers Find Dinner in the Pink

So what if Valentine’s Day was already over. Sunday’s Romantic Celebration, staged by Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian’s Orange Coast Heart Institute, was more than a treat for sweethearts.

Besides enjoying a candle-lit dinner at the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach, 166 institute supporters paid $125 each to meet Dr. Aidan Raney Jr. and Dr. Douglas Zusman, cardiac surgeons who plan to launch a heart transplant program at Hoag Hospital. The surgical team has performed 17 heart transplants since October, 1985, at Donald N. Sharp Community Hospital in San Diego.

“We’re excited to be here (from San Diego),” said Raney. “There is tremendous opportunity here to build up the cardiac program at Hoag and start a transplant program in Orange County.”

Added Zusman: “The hospital has been very supportive of this program. There is potential for an excellent cardiac department here.”

The institute, which raises funds for Hoag’s cardiology and cardiovascular surgery programs, didn’t inform the physicians that they were to be guests of honor at Sunday’s party.

“We found out when we walked in,” said Raney’s wife, Ann. She said she knew only that the event was to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And it did, in every detail, from a color-coordinated menu to strolling violinists.

As Pink as Possible

In honor of the occasion, restaurateur Hans Prager prepared a menu that was in the pink, as pink as possible with foods such as smoked salmon, Maine lobster salad, roast veal and stem strawberries injected with Grand Marnier.

Wild mushrooms came in a heart-shaped puffed pastry and the spinach souffle was sandwiched between a heart-shaped carrot slice and artichoke heart.

Prager said that previous institute dinners were “good for the heart, not just food that’s good to eat.” But the ultra-low-fat meals geared to a healthy heart were never Prager’s favorites, he said. So this year he featured his own gourmet selections. “I don’t like to serve food as if people are sick,” he said.

While enjoying the fare, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin, the former astronaut, was visited by a violinist who sang a line from “Fly Me to the Moon.”

The crowd was in such high spirits that some people danced between tables. Among them: Dr. Alexander Tischler, Lisa Grubbs and Dr. Alan Beyer and his wife, Winnie. Two others, Dr. Edward Domanskis and his companion, Julie Gibson, did an Irish jig.

Other sweethearts in attendance included Dr. Joel Manchester, Hoag’s director of cardiology, and Diane Mondini; Guy Claire, Hoag’s chairman, with wife Colleen; institute director Al Burnand and wife Audrey; Dr. Darel Benvenuti with wife Vicki, and Shari and Dr. Mark Cole.

Institute president Gary Burrill served as dinner chairman.

Hoag will offer the county’s first heart transplants. Part II, Page 1.