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=20
Remembering Mister=20
Rogers
By Jean Horne FOR THE=20
TRIBUNE-REVIEW Monday, March 29, 2004
It was a beautiful day in our neighborhood Saturday as =
Pittsburgh paid=20
tribute to our beloved treasure, Fred Rogers. From his PBS =
premiere at=20
WQED in 1954 to his last public appearance on Jan. 1, 2003, as =
Grand=20
Marshal of Pasadena's Tournament of Roses Parade, Mister Rogers =
was a TV=20
friend to children everywhere. He created a safe, caring place for =
growing=20
up until he died last February ... and won every industry award, =
including=20
the Presidential Medal of Freedom. To love Mr. Rogers, you have to =
get in=20
line.=20
The exhilarating, spirit-lifting "Music of Fred Rogers" =
at Heinz=20
Hall was a kilowatt glow on the talented composer and his music. =
Every=20
seat in Heinz Hall was filled for the concert with our world-class =
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lucas Richman =
and=20
Michael Moricz. Fred must've been whispering in their ears =
because=20
the stage was banked with colossal cutouts of his puppets Lady =
Elaine=20
Fairchilde, Daniel Striped Tiger, X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat =
and King=20
Friday XIII.=20
CNN's stunning anchor Paula Zahn hosted the first half =
of the=20
concert. An acclaimed cellist who debuted in Carnegie Hall in '92, =
she=20
accompanied the Children's Festival Chorus and PSO in an =
enchanting=20
version of "Peace and Quiet." Pat Sajak stepped in after =
the=20
intermission with delicious asides from "The Wheel of Fortune."=20
Here's an idea of the outsized entertainment that passes this =
way once=20
in a big fat blue moon: Broadway legend Tommy Tune singing =
and=20
tapping to "This Is Just the Day"; Metropolitan Opera diva =
Renee=20
Fleming and baritone Thomas Hampson beaming in on =
video, as did=20
cellist Yo-Yo Ma; actor John Lithgow; Cook, Dixon and =
Young=20
(formerly the Three Mo' Tenors); NYPD tenor Daniel =
Rodriguez, who=20
rallied the nation on 9/11; pianist Jeannine Morrison; =
Broadway=20
Billy Hartung; from a Neighborhood medley came Chuck =
"Neighbor"=20
Aber, Joe "Handyman" Negri, David "Mr. McFeeley" Newell, Michael =
Horton=20
and Frank Capelli; the North Star Kids; and on and on =
to the=20
finale sing-along of "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood."=20
Masterfully directed by the Public Theater's Ted Pappas. =
And=20
presented by community champions PNC and Eat'n Park.=20
With an impish sense of fun, Youngstown florist Joe Mineo of =
Something=20
New brought it back to the Neighborhood at the Duquesne Club. And =
stopped=20
the perfumed pack in their tracks. Er, trolley tracks. There, in =
the=20
Reading Room, a red trolley circled a field of wheat grass that =
was spiked=20
with daffodils under a prop of Mister Rogers' piano. Red cardigan =
cut-outs=20
playfully leaned against fireplaces and marked dining rooms. =
Centerpieces=20
of blue delphiniums, red roses and yellow gerber daisies filled =
tall glass=20
vases that were screened with a piano keyboard and quotations from =
"The=20
World According to Mister Rogers." Which explains why the dress =
code was=20
cardigans optional. And the eve's special gift was a copy of his =
best=20
seller. Love it.=20
While cocktails were served in the main dining and adjoining =
red rooms,=20
the delightful dine for 500 deep-pockets at $500/tix took over =
every=20
private space in the club. A convoy of school busses transported =
guests to=20
Heinz Hall, where yet another group of VIPs were feted to a =
bountiful=20
buffet donated by Downtown's trendiest restaurants and caterers. =
To=20
benefit PSO's educational and community outreach programs.=20
Floating along with the bubbles, champagne, desserts and a =
sundae bar=20
apres-curtain in the Bubbleland Lounge (inspired by Mister Rogers' =
opera,=20
"Windstorm in Bubbleland"), were such as Fred's bride of 50 years, =
ever-grand Joanne with sons Jim and John and=20
daughter-in-law Genie Rogers; Suzy and Jim Broadhurst =
with=20
Penn State prez Graham Spanier and Sandy; Elsie and =
Henry=20
Hillman; Mardi and Bill Isler; Bishop Donald =
Wuerl;=20
Archabbot Douglas Nowicki; county exec Dan Onorato =
and=20
Shelly; PSO's new director and native son Larry =
Tamburri; Holly=20
Buffinton and Victor Bove; Carol Word and Bill =
Trueheart;=20
Chuck Cohen; Jan and Don Moritz; Jayne Adair and =
Basil Cox;=20
Kathie and Dr. Ed Nicholson; Ann and Chris Donahue; =
Carol=20
Brown; Lou and beautiful Jean Astorino; Susie and =
Roy=20
Dorrance; Dr. Esther Barrazone; Toto and Jim Fisher; =
Sydelle=20
Kessler, a knockout in a red/black Issey Miyake; Nancy =
and=20
Jeff Leininger; stunning Sally Wiggin; Peggy and =
Maxwell=20
King; Bill Boyd; Rose and Bill Strickland; and event =
producer=20
Nancy Byrnes, who deftly masterminded the benefit.=20
As well as beautiful couple Teri and Damian Soffer; =
Diane=20
and Glen Meakem; Carol and Joe Massaro; Judy Grauer; =
Mary=20
Lou and Ish McLaughlin, in a varsity cardigan; =
Audrey=20
and Tim Fisher with daughter Nina; Wes and Ruth =
Parry;=20
Debbie and Mike Barbarita; Elizabeth and Denis =
McCarthy;=20
Val and Rick Johnson; Liz and Dan Wilson; Eva =
Blum and=20
Sam Zacharias; Jean and Brooks Robinson; Connie and =
Benno=20
Bernt; Margaret and Tom Whitford; Anne Morgan and =
Jim=20
Kelley, in from Atlanta; Drs. Doreen Boyce and =
Edward Sell;=20
Millie Posvar; Betsy Hurtt and Doug Branson; Janet and=20
George Miles; Susie Weiler and Larry Rhoades; =
Susanne and=20
Jim Wilkinson; B.J. Leber and Leo Castagnari; Lou =
Astorino=20
with Steve and his gorgeous Christine Astorino Del Sole; =
Jacqui and Jeff Morby; Tammy and Dr. Bob Yakovac; =
Jan=20
and Leslie Swensen; Cary and Richard Reed; Mary Beth =
and=20
Chris Leech; Joan and Jerry Apt; Jane Treherne-Thomas; =
Dolly=20
and Curt Ellenberg; Georgia and Bob Hernandez; Andrea =
Mahone;=20
Nancy and Bruce McGough; and Carol Savage and =
Bob=20
DiBella.=20
He was special.=20
Saturday =
night and=20
headliners strolled about town as if the city's streets were the =
world's=20
longest red carpet. While the Fred Rogers tribute played at Heinz =
Hall,=20
the Pittsburgh Hilton hosted a galaxy of localites for the 10th =
annual=20
Point Park University Starmakers Gala, where Carloyn =
and Dr.=20
Bill Byham took center stage as the soiree's honorees for =
their=20
many contributions to the area's cultural scene.=20
Of course, that's Bill's calling card that lights up the =
marquee of=20
Sixth Street's Byham Theater, while Carolyn's name graces the new =
WQED-FM=20
broadcast booth around the corner at Theater Square. But the =
Byhams earned=20
the PPU's Performing Arts Partnership and Achievement Award for =
their=20
behind-the-scenes volunteerism that includes the Pittsburgh =
International=20
Children's Festival, which she founded in 1985; the Cultural =
Trust;=20
Manchester Craftsmen's Guild; Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre; =
Pittsburgh Opera=20
Center; and many more.=20
Celebrating Starmakers' 10th year, PPU prez Dr. Katherine=20
Henderson announced that the benefit has added $1 million to =
the=20
school's Conservatory of Performing Arts and the Pittsburgh =
Playhouse,=20
where aspiring actors, singers and dancers hone their craft. Now =
that's a=20
box-office smash.=20
Let's roll the credits for a night of boffo performances =
chaired by=20
Ellen Golonski (with Nat City's=20
Tom) and PPU alum Jimmy Miller, a Hollywood power =
broker=20
whose clients include Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell. And, yes, he is =
the=20
brother of funnyman Dennis, another PPU grad. Proving that it was =
indeed=20
"Miller Time," screenwriter Bob Miller, son of =
playwright=20
Arthur, chatted with guests during the VIP reception.=20
Plenty of curtain calls were in order for COPA's young talents =
who made=20
it a grand night for singing and dancing as they entertained with =
medleys=20
from "Jekyll and Hyde," "Red" and "City of Angels." Enjoying the =
show were=20
COPA dean Ron Allan-Lindblom and Penny; honorary =
chairs=20
Dee Bold and Marsetta Schweiger; Nancy and=20
Richard Zelonka; Chuck and Connie=20
Gregory; Richard Rauh; Joan and John=20
Mazur; Cynthia and Paul Liefled; Chuck =
and=20
Debbie Gomulka; PR guru Micheal Brunner; =
Ellen=20
Henderson and Tom Hubbell; George and =
Kathy=20
White; Kim and Dave Slack; and Cheryl and =
Marty Schiff.=20
Thank our lucky Starmakers.=20
-- John Altdorfer=20
Being =
a National=20
Honors Society student or a gifted musician with an awesome GPA =
isn't=20
always a ticket to a first-rate college or university. Books, dorm =
fees=20
and pizza aren't covered by a scholarship or grant. That's where =
NEED=20
(Negro Educational Emergency Drive) enters the picture, with "last =
dollar"=20
funding for African-American scholars who have been accepted, but =
need the=20
extra bucks to make college happen. And NEED reached out to 700 in =
the=20
class of 2004.=20
Harvard grad Cedric Jennings, keynoter of Monday's =
splendid 41st=20
annual NEED benefit dinner at the Hilton, took the path from inner =
city to=20
the Ivy League (he's the centerpiece of Ron Suskind's best seller, =
"A Hope=20
in the Unseen,") and inspired 1,000 guests with the story of his =
odyssey.=20
Here and there, we spotted such as benefit chair Dr. =
Christine White=20
Taylor; NEED director Sylvester Pace and board chair =
Aaron=20
Walton; Esther Bush; Citizens Bank's Ralph Papa, who's =
leading=20
NEED's corporate fund drive; Dr. Barbara Bazron; emcee =
Harold=20
Hayes of KDKA-TV; Steelers legend L.C. Greenwood; Howard=20
Slaughter; the Rev. Eugene Downing; County Council's =
Bill=20
Robinson; Tim Stevens; Veronica Blaine; Greg Spencer; Reginald =
Irvis; Evan=20
Frazier; Debbie Norrell; Eric Mann; Jackie Dixon; and Dr. =
Betsy=20
Porter.=20
Friends in NEED.=20
You =
could call=20
North Catholic the little school that could. Perched atop =
Troy=20
Hill, the institution looms large academically, athletically and=20
charitably -- especially during Saturday's Trojan Triumph =
auction=20
in the Heinz Field East Club Lounge. On a night when everyone =
seemed out=20
on the town, 250 guests stayed true to their school to raise well =
over=20
$80,000. That's some lunch money.=20
Co-chaired by Kathy and Dr. Tim Kross, with an =
assist=20
from NC alum and financial whiz, author and TV commentator Dr. =
Bob=20
Froelich (with Cheryl), the fund-raiser honored =
Steelers boss=20
Dan Rooney with the "Forever True" award, which son Jim =
accepted=20
while dad attended NFL meetings. Doing their bidding were =
principal Dr.=20
Ed Scheid with Rose Marie; UPMC's =
Bill=20
O'Connor and Connie; Giant Eagle's Mark =
Minnaugh=20
and Diane; Joanna and John Meyers; NC =
board=20
chair Mary Ryan and Bill; North Catholic =
schools=20
superintendent Rob Passerba and Henrietta;=20
Nancy and Ray Huckestein (class of '46);=20
Cookie and Bud Beatty; and Molly=20
Larkin.=20
-- J.A.=20
Those =
PCNC=20
guys ... they know how to talk, and they know how to party. We =
stashed=20
the remote control and broke out the party hats Wednesday night =
for PCNC's=20
10th birthday basheroo. Ground zero was Club Cafe on the =
Southside, and it=20
played to a packed house of pols, talking heads and media celebs =
fueling=20
up at the open bar and comfort food graze.=20
The local cable station has grown to 850,000 subscribers from a =
base of=20
100,000 in '94, when the format was a constant rerun of newscasts. =
Today,=20
it's all about local programming, 24-7, with five hours of =
caller-driven=20
talk shows a day. Pittsburghers tune in for the bare-knuckle =
interviews=20
that cut through the smoke and mirrors of Grant Street politics.=20
Truth is, everyone who had a PCNC cameo in the year that was =
made the=20
cut. And the station aired the happening live on "Night =
Talk" with=20
hosts Ann Devlin, John Fedko and Dave Johnson. =
Cueing up the=20
guest list: PCNC station manager Mark Barash; WPXI-TV GM =
Ray=20
Carter; ex-mayor Sophie Masloff; Jim Ecker; U.S. =
Attorney=20
Mary Beth Buchanan; Dimitri Vassilaros; Teri Russo; Bob =
O'Connor; Alan=20
Hertzberg; Carl Prine; Whirl's Christine Tumpson; Bonnie=20
DiCarlo; young chef Justin Miller; Sharon and Burton =
Patrick; Carrie Coghill; Richard Applegate; Connie McDowell; Bill =
Day=20
and daughter Valerie Wilden; Bob DeLucia; and UFO =
expert=20
Stan Gordon.=20
Good reception.=20
Waltz Time. They were humming the "Blue Danube" along =
the banks=20
of the Allegheny during Saturday's silver-anniversary Viennese=20
Ball, as a dozen dewy debutantes danced the night away at The =
Priory's=20
Grand Hall. Greeting some 330 guests with a warm "willkommen," =
party=20
chairs Robert and Jane Tate presided over an =
Austrian-style=20
menu that featured spatzel, strudel and cake topped with Bavarian =
whipped=20
cream. Adding an international flavor were Austrian honorary =
consul=20
Edgar Braun and Gina; Swiss consul Dr. Heinz =
Kunz;=20
and Slovak honorary consul Joseph Senko. The parade of =
young ladies=20
featured Rebecca Bartoldi; sisters Jacque and=20
Stefanie Trovato; Hannah Zimmerman;=20
Brittney DelPizzo; Maria Talarico; =
Candice=20
Dickson; Erin Sparks; Emily =
MacPhail;=20
Sarah Kreke; Victoria Samuto; and =
Catherine=20
Lenns.=20
-- J.A.=20
Torchbearers. Success stories blazed at the Carnegie =
Museum on=20
Saturday, where Rod Doss, Glen Mahone, Dorcas Turner, Mary =
Coffey, Tina=20
Brewer, the Rev. Dr. George Fitch, George Simmons, Keith =
Giles,=20
Sandra Murray, and Howard Slaughter were honored for =
excelling=20
and enriching our community at the 19th Black Extravaganza =
&=20
Trailblazer Awards. Cecile Springer and Charles =
Powell=20
chaired the eve that was produced by Connie Portis of=20
Renaissance Publications and also recognized 50 teens as young =
achievers.=20
Following the ceremony, 800 guests streamed into the foyer, lobby =
and Hall=20
of Architecture for the lavish "Soul and Spice" reception.=20
Show time. At Saturday's luncheon in the Pittsburgh =
Athletic=20
Association, spring fashions ruled the runway in a rainbow of =
colors.=20
Sewickley's Name-Dropper dressed committee damsels in an "I've =
gotta have=20
it" collection that went from daytime to ball gowns, while junior =
misses=20
were gussied up by Cosy Creations at the 18th annual ladies day to =
benefit=20
the Sister Rose Marie Hauber Scholarship Fund. Presented by =
Carlow=20
College alums and headed by Margaret Monahan, the silent =
auction=20
was another highlight for such guests as Carlow's prexy Sister =
Grace=20
Ann Geibel; Linda Madden-Brenholts; Sister Jane Scully; =
Janet=20
Simon; Sister Rita Flaherty; Louise Malakoff; Bethany Ruhe; =
Dana=20
Rutkowski; Barbara Tartt; Lisa Bastidas; Dory Dominguez; Judith =
Belfoure;=20
Luitgarde Dupre Sujansky; and scholarship awardee Melinda=20
Lozzi.=20
Class action. The Aquinas Academy, a private K-12 =
Catholic=20
school in Gibsonia, took over the Pittsburgh Field Club for its =
sixth=20
annual Spring Gala that delighted 240 guests with Saturday's =
wining,=20
dining, bidding on nifty auction items and dancing to Dr. Zoot's =
band. A=20
flurry of roses blossomed everywhere, and so did Academy coffers =
at=20
$45,000 net-net. Terri Urbash and Nancy Conlon (both =
with=20
hubbies named Ray) chaired the eve for such as AAcademy =
prez=20
Peter Blume and Patty; Carol and Greg Hyrcza; =
Patti=20
and Jim Dolan; Kathleen and James Smith; Laurie and =
Tom=20
Lynch; Carolyn and Dr. Jack McKeating; Beth Ann and =
Anthony=20
Griggs; Deborah and John McCarthy; Terri and Spencer =
Allen; and Nancy and Youssef Arshoun.=20
Crisis control. Dr. Vamik Volkan, renowned =
author,=20
lecturer and negotiator between nations in conflict, spoke from =
his=20
personal experiences at Friday's dinner party in the Schenley Park =
Visitors Center to benefit the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic=20
Foundation. Learning how governments are responding to =
terrorism since=20
9/11 were such as Huyla and Howard Foster; PPF prez=20
Sandra Kryder and Mark; Barb Mendlowitz; Leonna and =
Barry=20
Fisher; Ann and David McAllister; Cynthia Valley; Mervin =
Stewart;=20
Barbara Blazick; Stuart and Velma Hirsch; and =
Stanley=20
Winikoff with Miriam, who chaired the eve.=20
Jean Horne can be reached at or 412-321-6460. |