Crystal Ball-Goers See Reason to Rejoice
While Saturday’s Crystal Ball was a sometimes teary tribute to Richard Flamson, who died of leukemia in October, the gala held true to its billing: “A Celebration of Life.”
About 150 people gathered at the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel to honor Flamson, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Security Pacific Corp., at a black tie dinner-dance presented by the Leukemia Society of America, Tri-County Chapter. The $150-per-person gala raised about $32,000 for the society.
Richard Remembered
Richard “would be terribly proud and pleased to have the Leukemia Society do this in his honor,” said his widow, Arden, who attended the gala with her two sons, a daughter and other family members. “It’s a very special evening for my family and myself.”
In 1989 the couple were honored at the first Crystal Ball for their contribution to the Leukemia Society.
“He was a very special man,” Arden recalled. “He would say he was sorry he was sick, not because of the disease but because he couldn’t continue to contribute” to the society.
Celebrating Life
Although the tribute to Flamson drew tears from the audience, especially during the screening of a video about his life, the mood of the gala was upbeat.
“This is not a somber event,” said Lloyd Miller, co-chairman of the gala. “It’s a celebration.”
Guests danced to romantic music by Lynn Willis and dined on an elegant meal of herbed salad with goat cheese and raspberry vinaigrette, grilled filet mignon with scallops in a smoked red pepper sauce and a fresh berry English trifle for dessert. Each table was draped in white cloth and decked with orchids; a trifle bowl filled with the evening’s dessert served as the centerpiece.
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Few guests had more reason to celebrate than the family of 12-year-old Whitney Ganzell. Leukemia was first diagnosed when she was 5, but the disease has been in remission for almost five years.
“Every time we go through another year with Whitney and she’s healthy, it’s a blessing,” said her father, Larry Ganzell, board member for the society.
“Patients who are off chemotherapy five years are considered cured, but as parents, we’ll never stop worrying,” he said. Other family members who attended were Whitney’s mother, Laurel, her grandmother, Pearl Grinstead, and sister, Erin.
“The Leukemia Society has allowed our daughter to grow and be healthy,” Larry said.
Proceeds from the gala will help fund research of the disease and support patients and their families.
“They’re getting closer to identifying the cause of leukemia,” said Kevin Spence, Tri-County chapter president and gala co-chairman. “Once they find the cause, they can zero-in on treatment.”
Gala guests also included Floss Schumacher, co-chairwoman of the ball, and her husband, Ed; Marilyn and Frank Lynch; David Ball; Robert Chilcote; Ron Merriman and leukemia patient Richard St. Clair.
