Starry-Eyed Tour Outpatient Center

A medical clinic that looked more like a fine hotel was the star of the “Evening at the Pavilion Under the Stars” gala staged Saturday by St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.

About 700 people attended the dinner-dance to celebrate the opening of the hospital’s Outpatient Pavilion. Friends of the hospital got the first peek at the Art Deco-style pavilion, housed on the first three levels of the new eight-story Medical Plaza.

Star Attraction

In keeping with the “Under the Stars” motif, silver paper stars hung above the entrance of the pavilion, and stars projected from spotlights shined on the plaza’s towers.

Guests were given tours of the interior, which many compared to a hotel lobby, thanks to its Art Deco light fixtures, lush carpeting and walls adorned with contemporary art.

Upon touring the pavilion, Walter Klosterman, chairman of the hospital’s board of trustees, asked: “What’s not to like?”

Among the facility’s user-friendly features: a smartly decorated waiting room with comfortable chairs and a back exit where one can leave, unobserved, after surgery.

Points of Light

After touring surgery rooms, party-goers moved outside, where event organizers had transformed the entrance into a posh outdoor ballroom complete with star-studded floral arrangements, a dance floor and orchestra.

Pinpoint spotlights illuminated the tables, reflecting off iridescent white floral centerpieces.

Guests moved among the food stations sampling a variety of seafood, pastas, carved meats, fruits and vegetables.

As if that weren’t enough, a dessert table offered crepes, blueberry or chocolate ravioli topped with strawberries and pastries.

Among the guests were Gene Spiritus, president of the St. Joseph medical staff, and wife Susan; Judy Puritz, executive director of the pavilion; Tami Parrott; City of Orange Mayor Gene Beyer and wife Lois; James Beam, wife Karen and son Craig; Dr. Tyson Cobb and wife Wanda; Dominick and Zora Gentile; Norman Koll; Peter and Mary Muth; and Robyn Ravgiala.

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WestMed Maternity Center: About 600 boosters of the WestMed Health Foundation gathered at MainPlace in Santa Ana for “An Affair to Remember.” Proceeds from the benefit, estimated at $70,000, will be used for United Western Medical Center’s new Mother and Child Maternity Center, due to open in November. The clinic will provide prenatal and postnatal care to an estimated 2,000 women annually.