It’s Not All Pomp for Charity League Debs

Protocol and pomp are played up. But, often, there’s a history of community service connected with debutante balls.

The 23 debutantes presented by the San Marino Area Chapter of National Charity League in the Grand Ballroom at the Regent Beverly Wilshire had each volunteered time over six years to philanthropies including the Crippled Children’s Society, Kidspace, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, Girl’s Club of Pasadena and the San Marino Public Library.

Thus, they could exude special pride when they curtsied to friends in a forest of live trees surrounded by red poinsettias tied with French ribbons. Robert Wines, husband of ball chairman Denise Wines, announced their names.

Prominent in the audience were Julie Condon, chapter president, and her husband, Thomas, and members who have organized a year of activities and planning--Beth Rettig, Susie French, Nancy Lewis, Marnie Dam, Jane Pearson, Madeline MacCuish, Ann Fletcher (debutante chairman), Sally Holt, Cheri Fremdling, Gail Ellis, Carol Minoux and Caren Cameron. Debutantes were Misses Melanie Boswell, Melissa Cole, Victoria Cuccia, Alison Dietrich, Juliandra Hamilton, Robin Harris, Allison Hill, Holly Johnson, Lisa Kelly, Emilie Kerckhoff, Kathleen Marangi, Heidi Marsh, Mary Marshall, Katrina Mielke, Amy Okum, Patricia Popovich, Carolee Reiling, Alyson Seden, Charmaine Shryock, Heather Smith, Lori Sturges, Valerie Tyler and Robin Weller.