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Order of Salvador notes, encourages supporters

By MARY JANE PARK
Published October 30, 2005

Costumed courtiers heralded the arrival of guests to the Order of Salvador on Oct. 21 at St. Petersburg's Salvador Dali Museum. The trumpets blared loudly enough to startle one or two attendees. Florida's first lady, Columba Bush, simply looked amused as she entered the building with her chief of staff, Jennifer Grace. Mrs. Bush has been honorary chairwoman of the Dali centennial.

The grand ceremony is in keeping with the artist's enjoyment of pomp and ceremony and benefits the museum.

Aaron Fodiman, already a Knight Commander First Class in the Order of Salvador, was master of ceremonies at the investiture of new knights and dames, who greeted Eleanor Morse, a co-founder of the museum (she holds the title Dame Grand Collar), Knight Grand Collar Tom James and Receiver General Bill Hough.

This year's new investitures: St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Andy and Betty Corty, State Rep. Frank Farkas, Mrs. Bush, Irma Bridgeford, Pascual Pesudo Castillo, Bob Kramer, Dr. Lawrence and Carole Merritt, Don and Dorles Musselman, Lothar Uhl, Pere Vehi and John and Diane Weatherell.

Brad Morse and Aila Erman were elevated to Knight and Dame Commander First Class status. Elevated as Knights and Dame Commanders of the Order of Salvador were Bill and Sally Habermeyer, Jim and Suzanne MacDougald, Irwin and Sonya Miller and Dr. Allen and Janet Root.

Elevated as officers of the order were Gus Stavros, Bob and Barbara Ulrich and Jim and Jeannine Hascall, with special salutations given to Rose Kue and Alfredo Riveras.

The ceremonies are grand and have a purpose: to encourage support for the museum and to acknowledge supporters. Dali officials are in the process of a capital campaign aimed at raising millions of dollars to build a new museum on the former site of the Bayfront Arena.

The board of directors' first priority, James said, is "to ensure the longtime safety of our collection," which he said "is impossible to value in the marketplace."

The evening also marked a special occasion for Mrs. Morse: It was her 93rd birthday.

"I'm overwhelmed," she said, after guests sang Happy Birthday in her honor. "It's wonderful to be a year older when you get all this attention."

Actor Patrick Wilson brought his fiancee to St. Petersburg last year to visit his parents, John and Mary K. Wilson.

"Hurricane Charley was headed this way," Mary K. Wilson recalled last week. "She walked in, and I had the rugs rolled up. I said, "Welcome to our home. Can you help me pack?' "

That was her first meeting with Dagmara Dominczyk, who married Patrick Wilson on June 18 in Milton, N.Y.

"She is wonderful," Mary K. said. "We love her dearly. We just adore her."

The couple met at a Carnegie Mellon University alumni event. Dominczyk, also an actor, was in The Count of Monte Cristo and has made numerous television guest appearances, most notably on 24 and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. She is working on a series for the WB network with Matthew Modine.

Her family immigrated to New York with her father, Mirek Dominczyk, a leader in the Polish Solidarity movement. He has since returned to Poland.

Patrick Wilson, whose film roles have included Phantom of the Opera and The Alamohas just wrapped filming of Little Children, an adaptation of the Tom Perrotta book, with Kate Winslet and Jennifer Connelly. Next month, he will start another project wit h Debra Messing and Ed Burns. And in January, he'll star in a Broadway revival of Barefoot in the Park with Amanda Peet.

Mary K., a performer and musical educator, and John, a WTVT-Ch. 13 news anchor and performer, recently visited the couple in New York and got to go to the Little Children set on Staten Island.

Friday

BUNGALOW FEST BY MOONLIGHT: Historic Kenwood event features evening tour of select homes, wine and cheese. 7-9 p.m. $15; two-day ticket $20. 323-2787.

FLEA MARKET:GFWC St. Petersburg Woman's club annual event. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. 527-3250.

HOLIDAY HOPE: Benefits ASAP Homeless Services. Buffet, silent auction, live entertainment. 6:30-10 p.m. Rutland-Farley Estate, St. Petersburg. $100. 823-5665.

Saturday

FISH HEAD BALL:12th annual event features food, costume contest, games, prizes. Benefits Pier Aquarium educational programs. Pirate and island casual attire. 7-11 p.m. Palazzo Di Oro, 3600 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. $30 advance; $40 at door. 894-1503.

FLEA MARKET: GFWC St. Petersburg Woman's club annual event. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. 527-3250.

HISTORIC KENWOOD BUNGALOW FEST: Tour of neighborhood homes, gardens; complimentary trolley. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $10; two-day ticket $20. 323-2787.

Sunday

GOLDEN BATON BRUNCH: Florida Orchestra Guild event honors outstanding contributor(s) to the orchestra. 11:30 a.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $40. 896-8685.

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 October 30, 2005, 01:13:18]