Admiral’s Admirable Youth Project

Adm. James D. Watkins is definitely not an admiral who is sailing into the sunset. The former U.S. chief of naval operations (until last year), was named Distinguished Honoree by Americana Associates at the First Gala in the new Four Seasons Hotel ballroom the other evening, not only for what he’s done, but what he’s doing. Believing “youth is at risk” with drug addiction, teen pregnancy and school dropouts, he’s mustering the enthusiasm of selected national leadership to redirect their resources. With the backing of Carnegie Corp., the Exxon Foundation and the Education Commission of the States, he’s trying to get youths into the productive work force.

Ball chairman Ginie Braun and her husband Henry helped turn out a ballroom full of guests underneath gigantic orchid sprays that the Malouf sisters--Florence and Marion--had actually picked from their greenhouse. Past honoree Jean Smith and her husband, former U.S. Atty. Gen. William French Smith, attended--she mentioning during the twilight cocktails that the admiral’s mother and hers had gone to school together at Huntington Hall, “which went under when the gardener shot the headmistress.”

It was a classy evening, the kind that combined Charlton Heston to do the introductions with the Four Seasons’ practice of providing fresh napkins for the dessert course. “I feel so much more secure with a new napkin,” Kingston McKee quipped. Founder Mrs. Thomas Malouf (Florence) noted that Americana Associates have provided extensive funds to redecorate state rooms in Washington, including the Benjamin Franklin Dining Room.

Ball gowns were impressive: Jackie (with Sydney) Rosenberg (they were back from London) in a Valentino, Jo Kroger in the Jill Richards gown she had worn to the White House, Alyce Williamson in a Mary McFadden. Between salad and the entree, Mrs. Williamson had a driver deliver her to Trader Vic’s in Beverly Hills just long enough to make a toast to son Henry, celebrating his 25th birthday with good friends. No one at the Williamson table caught on to her mission--including Peggy Ward and Jack Strauss--until her return about 20 minutes later.

More involved in the evening were the Fred Hameetmans, Barbara Bowie (on the honorary committee), Mrs. Raymond Rodeno, and members of the ball committee, including Mrs. Waldo A. Avery, Elizabeth Westerby, Mrs. Robert Sully and Mrs. John Martens. Others partying were Paul and Winnie Sampsell, Lois Driggs Cannon and Buzz Aldrin (leaving mid-May for the Cannes Film Festival and the 60th anniversary in Paris of Lindbergh’s flight), Burton and Kit Smith (formerly President Reagan’s doctor), Ceil Moore, Arletta and Don Tronstein, Pat Moller, John Watkins (the admiral’s brother), the Holmes Tuttles and the Jess Marlows.

HALF-DOZEN: During May/June, the Fraternity of Friends of the Music Center have six scheduled events, just a little of the rah-rah that will net them about $650,000 for the Music Center Unified Fund. Restaurateur Bob Morris hosts a New England clambake May 16 at his Gladstone’s restaurant in Malibu. Then Friends swap beach attire for business suits at a cocktail party hosted by Giorgio’s at JW Robinson’s in Beverly Hills. According to Fraternity president Roger Kozberg, Giorgio’s will preview its newest men’s cologne. Then, June 14, Kozberg steps down at the groups’s annual meeting at Bel Age Hotel, a black-tie sit-down affair with a Russian flavor. A Tahitian gala on board Windstar Sail Cruises’ the “Windsong” is scheduled June 27. Already Friends have weekended on a wine tasting in Napa Valley this month and dined in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion prior to “Romeo and Juliet” by the Joffrey Ballet.

FLIGHT: Debby and Bill Appler flew into Southern California from Washington for the Janine Eberle/Bill Myers gala wedding last weekend, then hosted their own intimate cocktail party, including friends Izzy and Tracy Pulvers, Laney and Tom Techentin and August and Martyn Belmont.

SCINTILLATING: Sparkling spirits, savories and scintillating sounds are but some of the wonders co-chairs Melinda Winston and Eileen Zimmerman have in mind for “A Grazing Affair,” this year’s Pasadena Mental Health Center benefit May 15. By grazing, they mean “sampling.” People will move happily from table to table for grilled sausages, a Mexican bar, the capuccino machine with 12 varieties, chocolate confections, wine. Proceeds will aid the center in its Crisis Hotline and provide funds for counseling programs. The center’s president is Esmeralda T. Gibson.

CHANGE/UPDATE: The Los Angeles Orphanage Guild’s Versaille Ball is this Friday in the Century Tower when ladies will wear their most romantic gowns, but leave the powdered wigs at home.

And, due to a change in his schedule, Gordon Getty has postponed his speech today to the Hollywood Bowl Patroness Committee until fall, according to Jeanne Johnson. However, Patronesses will still meet and lunch at Virginia Lord’s home in Beverly Hills.

ALL SET: Starting a new organization is not easy, and Cordella Owens and Maureen Womack put their best efforts into the Balletomanes, hosting their first annual Balletomane Ball on May 15 honoring Maria Tallchief, Valentina Kozlova and Edward Villella. The black-tie affair is in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel. The goal is to benefit the Marguerite Amilita Hoffman National Ballet Competition June 30-July 5 at UCLA. The competition has been established by Hoffman’s son, Barney G. Corbin, as a tribute to her life as a performer and teacher of the ballet. The aim is to provide cash prizes to ballet competitors. The finalist performance is at 2:30 p.m. July 5 at Royce Hall.

RED-LETTER DATES: The Coronet Patronesses of the National Charity League of Los Angeles will install Patricia Mersch as president at its annual mother-daughter luncheon Saturday at the home of Mrs. Robert Lee Humphreys in Brentwood. . . . the South Coast Chapter of the National Charity League honors senior Ticktockers in the Four Seasons Hotel Grand Ballroom in Newport Beach Saturday. In the spotlight for contributing thousands of volunteer hours over the past six years will be Misses Deirdre Ashby, Lisa Boardman, Beth Eberhard, Kim Fuelleman, Ann Marie Hagmann, Shari Hanson, Michele Hurst, Laura Junkermann, Mary McGill, Brooke Sample and Christina Welter. . . . Catholic Big Brothers can be girls (there are three), and one, Linda Merrifield Howard, is chairman of the group’s Saturday benefit at the Pasadena Showcase House of Design. She just happens to be one of the participating Showcase designers, doing a bedroom suite.

MIDAS TOUCH: It costs a family anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 annually to develop a nationally ranked junior tennis player. Thus, Omega Watch Corp. USA’s president Dr. Jacques Irniger, and former astronaut, Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, chairman, who recently completed the Omega Easter Bowl, one of the most prestigious junior tennis tournaments in the world, at their 20th anniversary championships at the Doral Hotel and Country Club in Miami, have announced a national fund-raising campaign for junior tennis. They’ll ask authorized jewelers to contribute $100 or more to establish a nonprofit fund. Southern California’s own Tracy Austin will tout the cause May 16 on an ESPN telecast.

KUDOS: To Lawrence O. Kitchen, chairman and CEO of Lockheed Corp., named California Industrialist of the Year by the California Museum Foundation (affiliated with the California Museum of Science and Industry), and to Dr. John Clarke, California Scientist of the Year. . . . to Florence Henderson and Richard M. Zelle, receiving Humanitarian Awards from Nancy Dussault at “An Elegant Spring Affair” fashion evening at the H.E.L.P. Group’s 10th anniversary membership luncheon Wednesday at the Beverly Hilton. . . . to Herbert Klein, Hank Rieger and Cleve Hermann, who received the Telford and Robert Work Distinguished Alumni Journalism Awards at the USC Trojan Fourth Estate dinner at the Ambassador. . . . to Patty Weaver, actress on “The Young and the Restless,” who joined Robert Wagner and others in the Michelob Light Celebrity Tennis Classic at Claremont Tennis Club to raise money for YWCA-WINGS, a shelter for battered women and their children. . . . to Stephen R. Dach, to be honored by the Insurance Council of California for the City of Hope May 20 in Beverly Hills. . . . to Fred Amsel, recipient of the United Cerebral Palsy/Spastic Children’s Foundation Tobi Award at Brentwood Country Club.

PLAUDITS: Philoptohos Society of Saint Sophia Cathedral names Mrs. George T. Kerhulas Mother of the Year at the Beverly Wilshire fashion extravagana that Mrs. Dan Stathatos and Mrs. William H. Oldknow will stage Saturday featuring Michael Novarese, Roland Mann, Holly Harp. . . . Sights and sounds of a 1940s USC Club are conjuring up conga lines and romantic farewells for the Pasadena Symphony Juniors. Susan McManigal is chairman for the symphony operating fund benefit Saturday, and, with honorary chairmen Ellie Jones and Alyce Williamson, will welcome guests somewhere close to the cockpit of an authentic biplane a committee, including Denise Hornick, Ann Stribley and Lori Fengel, has located.

THE AGENDA: The 39th annual women’s luncheon of the Sportsmen’s Club for the City of Hope runs into its third day today in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. For the first time, the marathon luncheon crowd will honor a Woman of the Year. She’s Nina Blanchard of the well-known modeling agency. By Thursday, according to chairman Muriel Lilien, the “Salute to Hollywood” affair will be attended by at least 4,000. . . . Los Angeles Westside Alumnae of Delta Delta Delta host a mother/daughter breakfast Saturday at Riviera Country Club, saluting UCLA members of Theta Pi chapter. . . . Wellesley College Club of Los Angeles members heard Prof. Marshall Goldman speak on “Gorbachev’s Challenge: Economic Reform in the Age of High Technology” at the UCLA Faculty Center.

DESIGN HOUSES: The Claremont Showcase House of Design at 544 W. 10th St., Claremont, continues through May 17, daily except Monday. The California colonial owned by the Thomas Braytons is reaping profits for the Children’s Home Society. . . . The York Estate at Mar Vista and York Avenue is the Whittier Design House ’87. The Whittier Historical Society shows it through May 24 to benefit the Whittier Museum. The residence was built in 1911 by pioneer oilman William Plotts and his wife Ruth.