Benefit Sharpens Focus on Hospital

All the cats joined in at Saturday’s second annual Stardust Ball, but, by the time the fur stopped flying, Muriel Roston remained in full possession of the cat’s pajamas.

Roston founded the fund-raiser for Sharp Memorial Hospitals with a glittering Hollywood-style romp given last year as, somewhat amazingly for this gala-mad town, the first public benefit in Sharp history. Her reprise of the leadership role at Saturday’s ball, themed as a black-tie theater tour of Broadway (“Cats” and “Cabaret” were among the musicals visited), again assured the 375 guests double helpings of glitter and almost certainly established the Stardust Ball as one of the major entries on San Diego’s annual calendar.

During the cocktail reception in the foyer of the main ballroom at the Sheraton Grande Torrey Pines, Roston said the creation of an event with a future was one of her goals.

“I hope this ball becomes a tradition that goes on forever and ever,” she said. Roston expected earnings for the evening’s beneficiary, the not-yet-open Mary Birch Women’s Hospital at Sharp Memorial, to be in the $100,000 range.

The gala’s crowded roster of activities included a silent auction of an eclectic assortment of goods and services (among them were a portrait of Marie Dressler in the role of Tugboat Annie and a physician-donated “executive physical”), and a live auction that offered walk-on parts on a pair of television sitcoms, a bird-hunting expedition and, not least, a cocker spaniel puppy that fetched a price of $2,800.

Co-chair Veronica Engel offered an unusual take on the gala’s supporters.

“It’s nice to see men supporting their wives and the women of this community by supporting the Stardust Ball, since tonight ultimately contributes to the Mary Birch Women’s Hospital,” she said, adding, as do so many chairs, “Money is so hard to come by right now!”

Hard to come by or not, most guests seemed to feel they got their money’s worth at the ball, which featured lavish, costumed productions of hit numbers from four Broadway musicals during the many courses of the extravagant meal. During the “harvest” soup, served in small pumpkins, entertainers offered a couple of songs from “Cabaret;” selections from “A Chorus Line,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Cats” followed during the dinner of seafood salad, salmon and berries with chocolate.

The room, darkened for the show, was lighted primarily by the Broadway posters framed in moving lights and by the centerpieces of glass top hats lighted from within. The performers from the “Cats” segment, which concluded the cabaret, spread out through the crowd in whiskery phalanxes after taking their bows and pulled dance partners onto the floor as the band, by felicitous design, struck up “In the Mood.”

Sharp Hospitals Foundation chairwoman Yvonne Larsen said the Stardust Ball is one way to give the institution a sharper public focus.

“Sharp has been a well-kept secret, but we’re going public as we expand our financial campaign over the next several years,” she said.

With her husband, Dan, Larsen headed the Mary Birch Hospital campaign, which she said came in $2 million over its $15-million goal, thus allowing earnings from the ball to be earmarked for hospital programs that will commence after the October, 1992, opening of the facility.

Among guests were Rodolfo and Rita Galicia, JoAnn Irving, the William Burnetts, Jack and Sigrid Fischer, Tom and Sue Morgan, Irving Roston, Manny and Mary Silva, Art Engel, James and Carol Watkins, Dan and Michelle Homan, Jack and Virginia Monday, Don and Abbie Giddings, Peter and Doris Ellsworth, George and Anne Coleman, Chuck and Marlene Koch, and Larry and Susan Favrot.

The New Testament account of the loaves and fishes, which multiplied to feed a multitude, never was mentioned at Thursday’s 15th annual “Tribute to the Golden Years” benefit for the Meals-on-Wheels program operated by Senior Adult Services. But even so, it seemed to be the inspiration for a banquet at which proceeds earned by dinners served to 580 supporters of the organization will multiply into thousands of meals delivered to the homes of senior citizens and shut-ins throughout San Diego County.

Every year, the tribute honors a local couple noted for contributions of time and money to a variety of charities; chosen as 1991 honorees were Michael and Carol Alessio, who in advance of the event made an unusual request of the gala’s organizers. In lieu of the usual plaque presented honorees, they asked that an equivalent amount be used to purchase one of the thermal food carriers used by the volunteers who deliver meals five days of every week; the carrier bore an inscription crediting the Alessios with the donation.

Before the dinner, Carol Alessio said, “I hate to have any attention, but tonight helps a great group. And the ones really honored are the volunteers who deliver food day after day.”

Alison and Jonathan Tibbitts, active in numerous charities and close friends of the Alessios,’ co-chaired the event, given as always in the ballroom of the San Diego Hilton.

“The most important thing accomplished by Meals-on-Wheels is to keep senior citizens and the handicapped independent, functioning on their own and feeling good about not being dependent,” said Alison Tibbitts. “Anything that encourages that spirit is a great benefit for the city. Mike and Carol epitomize Meals-on-Wheels, they’re very family and friends-minded, small-town folks who care so very much.”

In a departure from tradition, five chefs from the local Chefs de Cuisine culinary association--including two from rival hotels--joined the Hilton staff in preparing the banquet, which opened with shrimp in garlic sauce, continued with a pairing of veal and lamb and finished with plates of miniature pastries and sweets. Robert Buby of the Victoria Intermediate Care Center supervised a team that included Bob Brody of the Sheraton Harbor Island and Jay Pastoral of Hotel del Coronado.

The formal program wove itself through the dinner and interludes of dancing to the Dick Braun Orchestra. SAS President John Musial read messages sent the Alessios by local congressmen and Mayor Maureen O’Connor, but the best tribute was saved for last and presented by the Tibbitts, who read a personal greeting from Barbara and President George Bush.

Frank Alessio and his wife, Linda, spent their 32nd anniversary helping his brother celebrate. The guest list also included Marla and Jim Harrigan, Ted and Tita Bendrick, Loretta and Ron Smith, Dianne and James Bashor, Jean and Al Anderson, Sally and John Thornton, Amy and Victor Krulak, Jane and Lyle Gabrielson, Barbara and Harold Bright, Tommi Adelizzi, Janet Gallison, Dolly and James Poet, Marge O’Donnell, Alice Zukor, Annette and Joe Fritzenkotter, and Msgr. I. Brent Eagen.