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On the town

They were all dressed up with someplace to go

By MARY JANE PARK
Published January 8, 2006

What better time than New Year's Eve to dress up? And where better than the Florida Orchestra's annual gala, traditionally held in the ballroom of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg?

People attending the Dec. 31 event pulled out all the stops for the Hollywood Nite theme. Not least were the honorary chairs, Margaret Word Burnside, wearing a smashing black gown, a creamy fur stole and opera-length fingerless gloves, and Aaron Fodiman, wearing a hand-painted tuxedo shirt, a gift from orchestra patron Dick Minck, and a rhinestone bow tie.

Minck himself wore a tuxedo shirt he customized for the evening; his wife, Helen, wore elegant South Sea pearl jewelry he created for her. The couple were among the stars of the evening as the orchestra's executive director, Leonard Stone, announced their gift of $500,000 to endow two chairs, principal cello and principal harp. In 2004, they gave $250,000 to endow the principal percussion chair.

Tickets for the extravaganza started at $350 per person and went upward to $750. That's costly and worth it to patrons whose passion is the orchestra, and who are there for the full evening. In addition to champagne and cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, dinner and dessert, there were party favors: top hats and tiaras, and bouquets of roses to take home.

The orchestra, led by associate conductor Susan Haig, performed Hollywood favorites for the crowd, who danced to classics such as Moon River and New York, New York.

Just before midnight, the band Southtown Fever took over; guests could watch fireworks over the downtown waterfront and those with stamina celebrated until around 2 a.m.

Gene and Patsy McNichols were hosts for the evening; Jan Audette-Berger, the orchestra's special events director, attended to every elegant detail.

Music director Stefan Sanderling, attending with his wife, Isabelle, seems to be recuperating well from the fall he suffered in August, requiring neither cane nor wheelchair to negotiate the red carpet that led into the ballroom.

Actor Eugenie Bondurant, attending with her husband, Paul Wilborn, wore a fur cape. "It's vintage," she said, echoing Burnside. No one need think they are insensitive to modern-day concerns about harvesting the pelts.

Celebrating, too, were Jim and Jane Strenski, Jim and Emily Gillespie, Fred and Barbara McCoy, George and Pam Campbell, Sam and Demi Rahall, Dr. Richard and Mary Perry, Joe and Kathy Saunders, Walter Larson and Joyce LaRue, Ray and Nancy Murray, Wit and Peg Ostrenko, Aila Erman and Rabbi David Susskind, Monroe and Suzette Berkman, Lewis and Helga Andrews an d David and Bonnie Kesler.

It didn't matter if you were the baldest, the heaviest or the wrinkliest. It didn't matter what year you graduated from St. Petersburg High School. It didn't even matter if you graduated from another high school.

Nearly 450 people attended the St. Pete High all classes reunion on Dec. 29, and every single one had a story.

Frank (Class of 1969) and Suzan Ward Kaye ('70) came all the way from Mountain Home, Ark. St. Petersburg is too hot for them in the summer, traditionally the time when reunions are held, they said. December was just right for coming to town to see their former classmates. John Brown ('68) said he had never attended a reunion before, but saw information in the Times and decided to participate.

Beverly Backus Bennett and Jeannette Hepburn Welsh, both 1940 alums, said members of their class get together the second Thursday of every month at the Red Lobster restaurant on 34th Street N. Still, they came to see friends they've known throughout the years.

Among them was Bill Emerson ('39), who married the former Jane Stannard ('41). They didn't date in high school, Emerson said. He was valedictorian of his class and she was a head cheerleader. "She wouldn't have gone out with me," he said.

Who else was there? C.A. and Barbara Peters Sexton ('44), Tom James ('60), Evan Jones ('72) and numerous representatives of the class of '73, including Van and Jane Sayler, Harvey Ford, Paul Bailey and Alex Moreland, who said she was known as Mary Reynolds in high school. Most of the members of that class turned 50 last year. (Not Moreland, she hastened to say; she's the youngest.) They celebrated in St. Pete Beach in July as wind and rain from Hurricane Dennis buffeted the state.

"We partied through it," Bailey said. "We were fine."

The St. Pete Six, a band featuring current St. Pete High students, donated their time and talent to the effort, playing tunes that spanned the years.

Phil McLeod ('72) headed the committee that organized the all-years reunion, a tradition begun by the late Bob Pfeiffer, long known as St. Pete High's "Mr. Green Devil." The hope is to have an even bigger bash in December, the 80th anniversary of the current school building on Fifth Avenue N.

"It's great that everybody showed," McLeod said. "That's why we kept it open to the public."

Many of the classes have their own Web sites, as does the school: www.stpetehigh.com Classmates can contact organizers by sending e-mail to StPeteHighAlumni@yahoo.com they can also refer too www.sphs73.com which has up-to-date information on upcoming events.

The Queen's Court, which raises money for worthy charities through the annual Queen of Hearts Ball, is seeking applications from organizations that serve the St. Petersburg area to receive grants from the 2007 ball. To be eligible, nonprofits must be listed under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Applications may be received by calling 824-8577. The deadline for submission is Feb. 1.

The court also needs nominations of outstanding community volunteers for inclusion in the Queen's Court. Information packets may be received by calling 392-0509. Nominations will be accepted through Monday. The 2006 Queen of Hearts Ball is Feb. 25 at the Hilton St. Petersburg.

Thursday

CHILDREN'S ART SHOW, WINTER FESTIVAL: GFWC St. Petersburg Woman's Club event. 4-6 p.m. St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. 525-3885.

Friday

INK AND BLOOD: Opening reception for "Sacred Treasures of the Bible" exhibit. 6-9 p.m. Florida International Museum, 244 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $50. 341-7901. For information go to www.floridamuseum.org

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 January 8, 2006, 00:44:19]