A Special Touch of Diplomacy

As Sunday night suppers go, it wasn’t the usual. Chili with banana shortcake and whipped cream at Chasen’s. But former Ambassador Lester (U. S. representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council) and Carolbeth Korn added a fillip--Ambassador Vernon Walters, the U. S. ambassador to the newly reunited Germany--for an evening of dinner conversation.

Four former U. S. ambassadors and their wives were among the three tables of guests in the garden room--Mexico’s John and Connie Gavin, Ireland’s Peter and Jackie Dailey, the Vatican’s William and Betty Wilson, Belgium’s Geoffrey and Mary Swaebe.

Engaging in dinner chat, too, were Donna (former assistant secretary of commerce) and Bob (former Reagan personnel chief) Tuttle; Mike (former California lieutenant governor) and Linda Curb; Ambassador Walters’ sister, Laureen Massini of Arlington, Va., and prominent Angelenos Maude Ferry, Kim and Bob Rollo, Eileen and Richard Eamer, Keith and William Kieschnick and Fred Negem.

The next day Korn/Ferry International hosted a luncheon briefing for 200 at the Biltmore with Ambassador Walters.

MORE SUCCESS: Barbara Davis says the Carousel of Hope benefit, which produced $5 million for diabetes charities, hasn’t stopped spinning. Though an auction and the raffle raised $625,000, not every item was sold the evening of the gala, and auction head Nancy Zarif and committee members are still at it, getting friends and committee members to chip in a little more.

Among those with the cause still uppermost in mind are Wendy Goldberg, Rose Tarlow and the co-chairs: Betsy Bloomingdale, Armand and Harriet Deutsch, Marion and Earle Jorgensen, Alan and Nancy Livingston, Giney Milner, Norman and Erlenne Sprague, Chardee and Tom Trainer, Mary Jane and Charlie Wick, Betty and William Wilson, and vice chairs, including Marcia Hobbs, Anne Johnson, Joanne Kozberg and Deborah Tellefsen.

GALAS: Dinner at the new Italian restaurant Tra Fiori put pizazz into the opening of the Pasadena Symphony’s 63rd season. About 115 dined before rushing to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the well-received “Kakadu” by Peter Sculthorpe. Among first-nighters were Stephen (Pasadena Symphony board president) and Anne Morris, Edith and Jack Roberts, Christina and Neil Diver, Robert and Julie Snoddy, Richard Stever, Adrienne Morgan, Carol Bressler, Billie Bowlby, Wayne King and Kay Paschall . . . .

At its most profitable benefit yet--$225,000 raised--Santa Marta Hospital Foundation presented its Life Spirit Awards to Reva and William Tooley, Sister Marie Madeleine Shonka of St. John’s Hospital and the entire Santa Marta hospital medical staff. Lois and Robert Erburu chaired the night with co-chairs Wilma and Robert Campion and Alice and Jerve Jones. Among supporters: Earle and Marion Jorgensen, Jerry and Kathleen Grundhofer, Sir Daniel Donohue, Frank and Peggy McCormack and Jim and Cheryl Dintaman. In an impromptu auction, Tommy Lasorda offered the opportunity to be “a bat boy for the day” at Dodger Stadium, and when bidding reached $4,000, gave rights to both bidders, raising $8,000 in five minutes . . . .

Marcia Israel chaired the Stop Cancer Festival Francais evening at Two Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, with Cartier and 18 top restaurants. Designer Arthur Simon lined the drive with American and French flags in tribute to Charles de Gaulle on the centennial of his birth. French Ambassador to the U. S. Jacques Andreani was sought after. Armand Hammer, founder of Stop Cancer, ran the timetable for the affair, a prelude to the black-tie George Schlatter “Musical Extravaganza” Feb. 17 at Shrine Auditorium . . . .

Benefactors for “Crossroad of Continents: Cultures of Siberia and Alaska” at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum got the salute at cocktails and a private opening hosted by museum executive director Joanne D. Hale and Rose Narva, director of the Autry Resort Hotel . . . .

Shirley Jones captivated 500 and helped raise $200,000 at Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center Foundation’s black-tie soiree at MGM Filmland. Jerve Jones and Dr. Sherl Shearer planned the event.

KUDOS: St. Vincent Medical Center has a new support group--”Party for a Cause”--headed by Melina Webster, Megan Brady, Jeanine Dalis, Clare DeBriere, Michele Jacob, Natalie Jacob, Lora Ricca, Jeff Smith, Susan Spencer, John Boken . . . .

The Jeffrey Foundation for Handicapped Children launched the grand opening of its new center at 5464 W. Washington Blvd.

THE WHIRL: Juniors of the Social Service Auxiliary celebrated at Jimmy’s for lunch and announced the theme will be “Under the Mistletoe” for their Candlelight Ball Dec. 9 at the Biltmore. Grand Dame Alice O’Neill Avery has accepted the invitation to be honored, say ball chairman Tori Keegan and president Chris Newman.

PAST PERFECT: KOST-FM deejays Mark and Kim were a sheik and Southern belle. Costumes were lavish for City of Hope’s “Halloween for Hope” party at 20th Century Fox Studios. The evening raised $50,000 . . . .

A circulating wild ghost and a scarecrow with moving arms made a frolicking affair for the League for Crippled Children Jack O’Lantern Ball headed by Leona Boal for Orthopaedic Hospital . . . .

Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital brought in $70,000 at its Treasures and Trivia sale headed by Doreen Forsch, Rosemary Simmons, Joan Caillouette and Veva McKee . . . .

Buckley School’s appreciation party featured headmaster Walter H. Baumhoff and board chair Robert M. Wilson . . . .

The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge awards luncheon starred Chief of Police Daryl F. Gates as keynoter . . . .

President Janice Boswell and benefit chair Helen Tuppan paced the 75th year celebration of the Trojan League of Los Angeles at USC . . . .

Los Angeles Beautiful saluted business and industry at the Music Center with Eddie Albert and Jane Wyatt honorary co-chairs.

PLAUDITS: To Caroline Ahmanson, named International Citizen of the Year for the Nov. 19 International Visitors Council of Los Angeles Century Tower dinner . . . .

To Charles I. Schneider, former chairman of the Music Center Operating Co. and past president of the Music Center, guest of honor at the Los Angeles Master Chorale “Magical Madrigal Ball” Nov. 16 . . . .

To R. E. (Ted) Turner, receiving the Center for Population Options’ John Rock Award at the Nancy Susan Reynolds Awards Dinner Nov. 13 at the Beverly Wilshire.