USC Associates Pass Their Goal

The death of former USC president James H. Zumberge last week has added even more challenge to the Norman Topping Dinner sponsored by the USC Cancer Research Associates May 12 at the Beverly Hilton.

Chairman Charles C. Reed and CRA President G. Sydney Barton had set the night’s goal at $1.5 million. With three weeks to go, they’ve passed the $2-million mark. The purpose is to complete the $47.4-million campaign to double the size of the Kenneth Norris Jr. Comprehensive Cancer Center on USC’s health sciences campus.

That evening, tribute will be paid to Zumberge, who provided visionary leadership for the health campus, and the James H. and Marilyn E. Zumberge Research Wing will be established. The Zumberges had been scheduled to attend.

The evening will also feature the dedication of the William French Smith Intensive Care Unit at the Norris Hospital. Family members, including Jean Smith, widow of the U.S. attorney general, will be recognized.

Victor Borge has bowed out of a previous commitment so that he can appear at the black-tie gala. Kathleen McCarthy, Virginia Ramo, Flora Thornton, Kenneth Norris Jr., Richard K. Eamer and Lodwrick Cook are supporting the cause.

SHOWY: There was much different about this year’s Pasadena Showcase House of Design gala opening. First, it was on Easter Eve, an almost taboo benefit night. Second, the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee’s house had to be reroofed (all 12,500 square feet), have a new driveway installed and be totally painted outside--all during the rainy period.

“I lost my sense of humor only once,” said Shere Adair, who’s working on a doctorate in psychology specializing in stress management, staging her daughter’s wedding June 27 and also serving as the showcase’s co-exterior chairman with Cherie Saxton.

But, the ordeal paid off. A crowd of 560 came to see how designers had transformed the lovely Wallace Neff house in San Marino into a showcase of interior and exterior wonders.

Showcase chairwoman Judy Frank welcomed guests at the front door. Carole Parker and Kathy Martin, co-chairs of Premiere Night, greeted them by the courtyard fountain. President Christine Varner and her husband, Ron, got the position that presidents always get--the living room.

Said Christine: “I think this will be the best year ever.”

After more than four hours of touring and cocktails, the crowd sat for dinner and the finale of chocolate eggs atop a grassy bed of coconut.

Having a good time dancing to J. Sterling’s band in the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington, were: Gordon and Liz Anderson, Kathy and Richard Schlosberg, Brenda and Bruce Owen, Jane and Kris Popovich, Joyce and Sandy McGilvray, Susan and Richard Clayton, John and Liz Hancock, David Balfour (he had lived in the Showcase house between 1957-’67) and his wife, Elita, Linda and John Seiter and Kim Sweeney and Ken Whiting.

The House is open to the public through May 17, with tickets available through TicketMaster.

JUNE FUN: To entice friends to the Arabella Ball June 6 at the Huntington Library, the Society of Junior Fellows donned jewels and couture for an intimate food and wine tasting for 200 at the Fred Harvey Restaurant at Union Station.

At the June affair, party co-chairwomen Nancy Baxter and Victoria Rogers plan to lead all down the rose garden path and onto Huntington lawns for starlight dining and dancing.

SPRING AGENDA: Gloria Renwick, Billie Bowlby and Marj Fasman thought the carrot mousseline should be a tad more petite. They opted for one potato, not two, on the plates. And they whisked the whipped cream right off the top of the berries--all refinements of the sample menu the Music Center presented for Heritage of the Music Center’s second annual Heritage Luncheon next Thursday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

That’s when a whole new group of longtime Music Center donors and volunteers will be toasted. This year, the class of ’72 joins the ranks. It includes Ernestine and R. Stanton Avery, Lila and Roy Ash and Ginny and Henry Mancini . . . .

James P. Miscoll, the banker who raised millions for United Way, and Lisa Specht, an attorney, will be honored by the Professional Associates of Big Sisters of Los Angeles Tuesday at a dinner at the Beverly Hilton. John W. Amerman, chairman and CEO of Mattel Inc., is dinner chairman.

KUDOS: To Southern California philanthropists Dorothy E. Leavey and Robert E. McDonough (of Capistrano Beach), recipients of Georgetown University Alumni Assn.’s highest award, the John Carroll Award . . . .

To art collector Frederick R. Weisman, to be honored May 1 by the National Arts Assn. at the Orchid Ball at the Regent Beverly Wilshire . . . .

To actress-writer Joan Montgomery Hotchkis, recipient of the Distinguished Alumna Award Friday from Westridge School. . . .

To Lillian Zacky, to be honored as Woman of the Year by the City of Hope Sportsmen’s Club Monday at the Beverly Hilton.

ESCALATION: Not one, but two “Fashion With Passion” spectaculars at the Wiltern Theatre highlighted the Lullaby Guild’s 34th annual Ebony Fashion Fair. Funds will support foster children through Children’s Home Society . . . .

More than 150 danced to Joe Moshay as they helped John and Elaine O’Hara celebrate their golden wedding anniversary at the California Club . . . .

Jovial singing and toasts accompanied Tam and Don Dickerson’s joint 60th birthday bash at Chasen’s . . . .

Wanda Henderson and Emil Lau joined California First Lady Gayle Wilson at the formal reopening of the Smithsonian Institution’s First Ladies Exhibit in Washington . . . .

A crowd of 500 raised $250,000 at the Founder for Diabetic Research (City of Hope) Esperanza Ball at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Jack Carter was honored as Founder of Hope.