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On the town

Gift to help fine arts museum branch out

By Times Staff
Published March 16, 2005

What a birthday.

Patrons attending Saturday's gala to celebrate the Museum of Fine Arts' 40th anniversary learned about a sizable financial gift that moves the organization substantially toward building a new north wing.

William R. Hough made the donation in honor of his wife, Hazel, for whom the addition will be named.

Museum president Carol Upham made the announcement to supporters who packed the Marly Room for the Stuart Society event. She also acknowledge d Bill Habermeyer, chief executive of Progress Energy, which is underwriting "Monet's London," the museum's current lead exhibition.

Bill Stover, attending with his wife, Kathy, said privately that Hough's contribution and several additional gifts "have given us a good start" toward the total needed to pay for the first of two new wings for the museum. Stover heads that capital campaign.

"We're going to build when we can afford to build, and we're going to build it when we have the money," he said.

The festivities also opened Art in Bloom, the annual event that features floral interpretations of works in the museum. Two dazzling reflections of the Monets were created by Delma Booth and Cassie Osterloth. Booth's re-creation of Houses of Parliament, Effect of Fog, 1903, occupied part of the stage in the Marly Room. Osterloth's version of London's Waterloo Bridge stood in the Great Hall.

Altogether, it was a special evening for longtime supporters of the arts and the museum.

The guest list included the Houghs' children and their families, Robb an d Susan Hough, David and Helen Feinberg and Pat and Susan Henry.

Sally Habermeyer, injured in a recent fall, wore a sling of pale blue to match her elegant dress.

Many in the room stopped by the table of honorary chairwoman and nonagenarian Louise Bishop, whose daughter Mary Joan Mann helped with introductions.

Detroit area philanthropists Bob and Maggie Strum Allessee flew in from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and attended with her sister, Harriett Strum.

Others present included Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood; Pinellas County Commissioner Calvin Harris and his wife, Ruth; St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and his wife, Joyce; Fred Shuh; Watson Haynes; Dr. Vance Bishop; Joane Miller; Phyllis Stover Williams; Bud and Fran Risser; Rolfe and Jean Duggar; Barbara Smith; Bob and Jane Randall Kirby; Hugh and Keith Tulloch; Starr and Dr. Rudy Weihe; Fred and Barbara McCoy; Janet Raymond; Anne Long; Tom and Betty Jean Miller; Jerry and Charlotte Kendall; Ian and Jean G. Irwin; Mary Wheeler; Pat Wheeler; Dr. Royce and Priscilla Hobby; Donna Painter; Van and Jane Sayler; Royce Haiman; Bill and Marion Ballard; David and Margo Fischer; Dr. Joe Pilkington; Cary Bond; Cary Bond Thomas and Frank Blandford; Mark and Marty Petty; Bob and Tina Douglass; Tony and Carolyn Bond; and Tony an d Lynn Collins. Mary Shuh chaired the gala, and Carol Barbosa headed the silent auction committee.

The palm-lined foyer of the TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach thundered with drumbeats Friday night, and leopard and camouflage were the de rigueur decor for Safari Knights, the annual fundraiser sponsored by the parents association of the Canterbury School of Florida.

Animal prints abounded, but it is safe to say that no one wore more leopard spots than Lee Silbert Burgess, posing as Sophie Safari, whose feline attire included eyeglasses and gloves.

The taxidermy animals? From the collection of TV's "Jungle Jack" Hanna, who has a vacation place in Belleair Beach.

The live and silent auctions featured an extensive array of items, including the coveted class quilts Susan Hough said took 5 miles of thread and 4,500 hours of labor to assemble.

Michelle Curtis and Mimi Bridge were co-chairwomen of the event; committee chairwomen included Wendy Wallace, Katie Hellier, Debbie Poland, Analia Renner, Jan Herzberg, Debbie Linguanti, Nora Siegal, Tina Porter, Dee Dee Shickel, Lori Klingler, Lisa Johni, Holly Magnan and Carol Russell.

Attendees included head of school Ellen Welsh, parent association president Maureen Dobiesz, Robb Hough, Jim and Kaye Pollard, Sue Brody, Tim and Anje Bogott, Bill and Ria McQueen, Darryl and Melissa LeClair, Lucas Fleming, Troy and Judy Holland, Andy Wallace, Lee and Mindy Harvard, Scott Johni, Maggi McQueen and Mike Keefer, Tom Smith and Sue Hanna, Gray and Georgia Mattern, Philip and Michele Farley, Mark and Mandy Rutledge, Kelly Curtis, and Rob and Tiffany Webb.

Thursday

ST. PATRICK'S DAY DINNER: Benefits St. Petersburg Woman's Club historic building restoration fund. 6:30 p.m. St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. $15. 822-4982.

BOLEY CENTERS LUNCHEON: 35th anniversary event features keynote speaker Amy K. Long, honors Mary R. Koenig. Noon-1:30 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $40. 821-4819, ext. 5712.

GRAND OPENING GALA: Benefits T.W. Curtis Foundation for socially at-risk, abused, neglected and underprivileged children. Art, music, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction. 5-9 p.m. T.W. Curtis Foundation Gallery, 111 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. 898-0358.

HADASSAH DOWN UNDER: St. Petersburg Chapter of Hadassah event benefits Hadassah Medical Organization's new center for emergency medicine. Dinner, live entertainment. 7:30 p.m. Wine Cellar, 17307 Gulf Blvd., Redington Beach. Reservations: $125 check per person payable to Hadassah, c/o Emily Rotenberg, 6240 Kipps Colony Court No. 303, Gulfport, FL 33707. 343-2196; 347-0879.

A NIGHT AT THE OSCARS: Baron Gala 2005 benefits tuition, technology at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. Dinner, silent and live auctions. 6:30 p.m. 6333 Ninth Ave. N. $60. 458-2715.

INFINITY FASHION SHOW: Rescheduled from Jan. 29. 25th anniversary event benefits support group for CASA, Brookwood, Help A Child, features fashions from Ambria's. 11 a.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $50. 343-9504.

LUNCHEON, CARD PARTY: St. Anthony's Hospital Auxiliary event. Sunset Vinoy Ballroom, 600 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg. $25. 520-0286; 343-9504.

Mary Jane Park can be reached at 727 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

[Last modified March 16, 2005, 01:32:17]