USC Scores by Mixing Fun, Fund-Raising

When it’s the most successful fund-raising dinner in USC’s history--a net of $1.2 million--the guest of honor has the right to the mike. Richard K. Eamer, whose wife Eileen also was honored by USC’s Cancer Research Associates at the Beverly Hilton, was a bit long-winded, but he also proved he could have been a wonderful stand-up comic. He had a black-tie audience of 600 spellbound with his racy quips. However, he went on so long USC President James Zumberge leaned on him so that Tennessee Ernie Ford could strike up Ray Anthony’s Band.

There were plenty of wide smiles that night. Ron Stever, president of the associates, created a special $250,000 challenge grant to support the fund-raiser. That was the spark for dinner co-chairs John Bedrosian, Carl Hartnack, Dr. Joseph Van Der Meulen and Stever himself to excel with a committee including Berle Adams, John Argue, Sydney Barton, Jack Foreman, Richard Van Vorst, Dr. Arthur Ulene, Dr. Robert Tranquada, Carl Reisman and Winston Fuller.

Eamer, CEO and chairman of National Medical Enterprises, has two graduate degrees from USC. The Eamer Medical Plaza is part of the Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital and Research Institute on the USC Health Sciences Campus. The gala benefited the Norris Cancer Hospital and Research Institute and the Norman Topping Cancer Research Fund.

Eamer made a point that what seems a disadvantage in life may not be handicapping. His father, he told the crowd, left his wife for his secretary, and they produced Eamer. Then, he said, his father returned, a year and a half later to his wife, and “that good woman” was the one who raised him. Said Eileen Eamer, “He believes in telling the truth; that’s exactly what happened.”

ROMANTIC: The night was damp, but inside Hotel Bel-Air the mood was blithesome for the dancing party Doreen and James McElvany hosted. The meritorious were in full swing: Pat (she wearing long johns under her black taffeta) and Finn Moller, Robin and Peter Barker (chatting about their new home in Wyoming), Alan and Georgina Rothenberg, Paul and Cassandra Westhead, Carolyn and Charles Miller, Joanne and Don Albrecht.

SUPER GIVERS: “No, we’re not contemporary art collectors. But, it’s just such a nice museum the way it is, and it can become the heartthrob for art for Orange County and it needs bigger exhibitions.”

Judie Argyros was explaining why she and husband George have given $100,000 to underwrite the Newport Harbor Art Museum’s third annual “Art of Dining.” Joachim Splichal, owner/chef of Los Angeles’ Patina on Melrose Boulevard, was at the Four Seasons Newport Beach this week telling 130 elite how he’ll coordinate 10 international chefs in serving an eight-course dinner April 29 for the museum, due for completion in 1993.

VIVA CANADA: The red and white banners were furling when Canadian Consul Gen. Joan Winser hosted the reception supper at their residence after the AFI Associates Los Angeles premiere of “Jesus de Montreal.”

VOLUNTEER STARS: Keith Ann Kieschnick will be installed chairman of the YWCA of Los Angeles President’s Circle today at the home of Charles and Harriet Luckman . . . .

Claudette Rogers and Kitty Winston will chair the special Planned Parenthood Guild “Made With Love Food Boutique” March 8 at Food Fare ’90 sponsored by the guild at Riviera Country Club under direction of guild president Lynne Alschuler and event chair Barbara Rosenstein.

PAST PERFECT: At their Las Floristas premiere night at the Natural History Museum, Carolyn Stockwell and Pat House introduced the floral designers who will create those flowered extravaganzas for the April Headdress Ball. President Sue Jarvie and ball chairman Julie Lee were also spotlighted . . . .

Elliott Abrams, former assistant secretary of state for Inter-American affairs, was in town to address the luncheon hosted by Res Publica Board of Governors and Claremont McKenna College president Jack and Jil Stark . . . .

Couturier Pauline Trigere held court at the Westwood Marquis at a cocktail party . . . .

Colorado College president Gresham Riley was feted at a dessert hosted by Nancy Hezlep.

ABOUT TOWN: Pam and Shannon Clyne, Diane and Mark McNabb and Sheila and Stephen Stern hosted the dinner-dance at the Bistro to benefit Childrens Chain of Childrens Hospital (Pam Clyne in absentia, because she was in bed with a hip replacement) . . . .

Jane and Robert Kramer of Beverly Hills introduced their friends to L.A. visitor Dr. Shimon Slavin, bone marrow transplant expert at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem . . . .

Actress Joyce Bulifant Asher received Los Angeles Chapter of Childhelp USA’s annual “Sweetheart” award at the Riviera Country Club . . . .

Gloria Holian chaired the Paulist Women’s Club fashion luncheon . . . .

Ellen Hume, executive director of the Joan Shorenstein Barone Center on Press, Politics and Public Policy, was named distinguished journalist at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at a Harvard University reception at the Regency Club . . . .

Kenneth H. Patton, president of Pasadena Historical Society, has revealed a $2-million campaign to build the Pasadena History Center on the Fenyes Estate.

KUDOS: American Youth Symphony turns 25 with its anniversary gala next Sunday at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center.

PLAUDITS: At the Plaza Athenee Polo Cup high-goal play today at the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, the Athenee will be honoring Lee Minnelli and Rosemarie and Robert Stack at cocktails.