6.1.07: Ebb and flow of the New York Social scene

Ebb and flow of the New York Social scene

"Midsummer Dream" at the Southampton beach house of Janna Bullock.

Memorial Day weekend in Southampton, Philanthropist and real estate developer Janna Bullock, along with Thomas Krens of the Guggenheim and Peter Beard, hosted an Africana exhibition and the unveiling of “Midsummer Dream,” an Art House by the late Hamptons architect Norman Jaffe.

Mr Jaffe’s style was considered romantic modernism, derived from, borne of traditional modernism first established by the Bauhaus Movement and architects such as Le Corbusier.

He began his career working briefly for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and Philip Johnson. What at first seemed a bright career took several unfortunate turns including the untimely death of his wife Barbara in a car accident in 1980 and an unanticipated lack of commissions. Nevertheless he soldiered on, becoming eventually sought after by a wealthy clientele.

He was a great success and became known as an architect to the rich and famous. Clients included Bjorn Borg, Alan Alda, Harold Becker, Chico Hamilton, Wall Street banker Peter Cohen. His design creations transformed with his increase of these clients to the point where he became disenchanted and fled to an ashram in India to regenerate.

Upon returning he was given the commission for the Gates of Grove Synagogue in East Hampton. The result was critically acclaimed and he won many awards including a fellowship in the American Institute of Architects and more lucrative commissions such as 565 Fifth Avenue which critic Paul Goldberger praised as the best new building in Manhattan.

It was shortly after the completion of that “best new building” on August 19, 1993 that Norman Jaffe disappeared into the Atlantic, just a few miles from his home in Bridgehampton. His clothes were found on the beach, money still in the pockets. His car was discovered parked in a friend’s driveway a short walk from the ocean.

All kinds of stories circulated after his disappearance – theories of murder by an irate client, accidental drowning during an early morning swim, having been caught in a powerful riptide (he wasn’t a good swimmer); a theory that he staged his own death in order to run off to disappear in India and start a new life, the result of a recently deteriorating relationship or fear of the results of a bout with prostate cancer. Or simply that he had emulated one of his gods, Le Corbusier, by disappearing into the ocean. His will and business affairs had been put in excellent order. He was never found; with many of his “dreams” still enjoyed a decade and a half later.

Marque Debary and Mary McFadden

Frances Hayward and Christopher Mason

Mark Langrish and Michele Gerber Klein

Lady Liliana Cavendish with Campion and Tatiana Platt

Nathan Bernstein and Katharina Otto-Bernstein

Paul and Alice Judelson

Payal Chaudhri, Peter Beard, and Lucia Hwong Gordon

Tara Subkoff and Arden Wohl

Elizabeth Fekkai, Thomas Krens, and Somers Farkas

Janna Bullock with the Keno brothers

Mike Latham, Deborah Schoeneman, and Adam Fisher

Dolly Lenz, Richard Rubenstein, and Cygalle Dias

Dancing on the beach

Sonja Morgan, R. Couri Hay, Michele Gerber Klein, Janna Bullock, and Lisa Rosen

Chris Brown and Allison Chace

Over at the Rainbow Room high above Rockfeller Center, the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center held its annual Spring Gala celebrating it’s 10th annual Awards for Excellence. Constance Casey and Dr. Harold Varmus and Mr. and Mrs. Douglas A. Warner III were honorary chairs. Chairmen were Mrs. Roman Martinez IV and Mrs. Benjamin Rosen.

The awards honor individuals whose generosity, talent, and accomplishments have helped advance MSKCC’s mission. Richard I. Beattie, Vice Chairman of the MSKCC’s Boards of Overseers and Managers and Chairman of the Board of Managers of Memorial Hospital, received the Award for Excellence in Corporate Leadership, presented by Douglas A. Warner III, Chairman of the Boards of Overseers and Managers. Mr. Beattie was cited for his “deep engagement in the life of the community ... and his extraordinary judgment and vision.”

The Award for Excellence in Philanthropy went to MSKCC Board member Mort Zuckerman, presented by MSKCC President Harold Varmus. Mr. Zuckerman was cited for “providing an inspiring model of leadership, philanthropy, and citizenship,” reflected in his $100 million commitment, the largest single gift by an individual to the Center, toward MSKCC’s new research facility, now named The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Research Center.

Society President Vera Safai presented the Award for Excellence in Medicine to the Center’s Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs, Larry Norton. Dr. Norton, a hero to many who have been touched by his work and commitment, was recognized “for his achievements as a cancer researcher, his commitment to his patients and their families, and for his nearly two decades of service on behalf of Memorial Sloan-Kettering.”

Kathy and Andrew Thomas

Elizabeth Pyne and Stephen Sherrill

Daley and Gordon Pattee wth Kitty Sherill

The evening concluded with a performance by Broadway star Patti LuPone, who spun a tale of “all the shows I could have played, should have played, did play, and hopefully will play,” with a medley of songs from musicals including Peter Pan, The Baker’s Wife, and Evita.

Founded in 1946 to raise funds for MSKCC, The Society is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the well-being of patients, supporting cancer research and providing public education on the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer. For more 60 years, Society volunteers have worked in close collaboration with the physicians and staff of MSKCC to support the Center’s mission of providing the best cancer care to its patients.

370 guests attended including Barbara Walters, Nobel Laureate James D. Watson, Richard Holbrooke and his wife, author/journalist Kati Marton,

Liz and Felix Rohatyn, Joan and Paul Marks, Mrs. Patricia Cisneros, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Washkowitz, Nicole and Derek Limbocker, Muffie Potter Aston and Dr. Sherrell Aston, Catherine and Fred Adler, Joanne and Roberto de Guardiola, Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis, Evelyn and Leonard Lauder, Grace and Chris Meigher, Alexia Hamm Ryan, Marvin and Mary Davidson, Robin and Louis Gerstner, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Coco and Arie Kopelman, Karen and Richard LeFrak, Fayez Sarofim, Marlene Hess and Jim Zirin, Daisy and Paul Soros; Junior Supporters Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler, Alison and Jay Aston, Harry LeFrak, Stephanie and Chase Coleman, Kristen and Charlie Allen, Shoshanna and Josh Gruss, Nico Landrigan, Teddy Schwarzman, Amanda and Elizabeth Meigher, Elizabeth Pyne, Owen Breck and Helena and Roman Martinez.

Jim Robinson with Donna and Ben Rosen

Henry and Wendy Breck with Roman Martinez

Jason Reeves and Holly Miller

Thorne Perkin and Tatiana Papanicolau

Roman and Helena Martinez

Muffie Potter Aston

Harrison LeFrak, Elizabeth Pyne, Phoebe Booth, Nick Papanicol

Nico Landrigan, Helena Martinez and Owen Breck

Grace and Christopher Meigher

Marie Josee and Henry Kravis

Vera and Bijan Safai

Kati Martonand Richard Holbrooke

Egan Seward and Helena Martinez

Christine Alfaro & Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler

Vera and Bijan Safai, Leslie Jones

Missie Taylor, Roman Martinez and Tina McPherson

Gail Hilson and Evelyn Lauder

Nico Landrigan and Kimberly Roosenberg

Dr. Larry Norton and Liz Gardiner

Jay and Allison Aston

Kimberly Schulhof

Patricia Cisneros

Roman Martinez and Charlotte Howard

Dick Beattie and Sandy Warner

Hilary and Joe Califano

Mort Zuckerman and Dr. Harold Varmus

Jamee Gregory and Leslie Jones

Nicole and Derek Limbocker

Coco and Arie Kopelman

Bambi Lyman and Will Hoar

Marvin and Mary Davidson

Tony and Karen May

The same night of the 10th annual Awards for Excellence, the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation held its Bal du Printemps commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Foundation. The Page and William Black Humanitarian Award was presented to the Lillian and Sol Goldman. Dinner Chairs were John Castle, Margo and John Catsimatidis and Kathy and Alan “Ace” Greenberg. Len Berman, NBC-TV sports anchor was emcee.

The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation was founded by the late William Black who also founded the Chock Full o’Nuts Corporation. Many New Yorkers remember the Chock Full o’ Nuts Coffee jingle (“Chock Full o’ Nuts is that heavenly coffee, heavenly coffee…”) that was sung by Mr. Black’s wife, now widow, Page Morton.

Page Morton Black on video screen

Amy Goldman and Stephanie Goldman-Pittel

Mr. Black founded PDF because a friend of his had Parkinson’s disease. It was the first not-for-profit organization to focus on Parkinson’s Disease.

I have a friend who has Parkinson’s. It is a horrible horrible affliction that bears down on its victim slowly and relentlessly, often taking many years in finally claiming a life. It is not sudden like so many diseases but tortuously long in process of degeneration, with little medical therapies to offer even slight relief. It simply worsens over a long period of time, rendering its victim helpless and long suffering in pain. It is almost unbearable to witness, so unbearable that it can become intolerable for the victim’s partner and family. The subject was brought to the public’s attention recently when a certain idiotic broadcaster expressed skepticism of the physical condition of actor Michael J. Fox who has Parkinson’s, implying that he was faking. I could only think of my friend, once a beautiful, vibrant woman, a gift to her family and her community who does nothing but suffer the profound pain of this affliction. What kind of cynical fool would joke about such great physical misfortune?

Fortunately there are others, like Mr. Black’s widow, Page Morton, although unable to attend the PDF fundraiser at this time in her long life, was nevertheless on the phone to those of us who can get the message out. Mrs. Black is the foundation’s board chairman. They’ve raised almost $70 million worth of scientific research, supporting the work of leading scientists throughout the world. Proceeds from the Bal du Printemps will further the cause.

To learn more visit their web site: http://www.pdf.org/