Summer Solstice

Matt, William, Annie, Rosemary, Carlos, and Steve Ferrer

Leila Nutting, Steve Ferrer, and Barbara Leswing

A week ago Tuesday, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) hosted its 22nd Annual Awards Dinner at The Rainbow Room. More than 180 attended, raising $756,000 for the Institute’s research programs.

CRI executive director Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, Ph.D., emceed the black-tie dinner, which honored philanthropic and corporate leaders and scientists who have made significant contributions to the fight against cancer. Cancer Research Institute co-chairman of the board Donald J. Gogel, president and CEO of Clayton Dubilier & Rice, spoke on behalf of the Institute, highlighting its highly effective research programs, its efficient stewardship of donor funds and public trust, and its unique model of international collaboration and shared resources leveraging.

Andrew M. Paul presented the Oliver R. Grace Award to Carlos A. Ferrer

Dr. Philip D. Greenberg presented the Coley Award to Dr. Michael Bevan

2008 Grace Award Winner Carlos A. Ferrer

The McGrath Family

Keynote speaker Jedd D. Wolchok, M.D., director of immunotherapy clinical trials at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, shared his personal story of how he as a young research scientist first became interested in tumor immunology. Dr. Wolchok told how his work with melanoma patients over the years fueled his passion to develop immune-based therapies to help them.

Last year, the USDA approved his DNA vaccine for the treatment of malignant melanoma in dogs, making it the first approved therapeutic cancer vaccine to be made commercially available. His vaccine is now in trials with human patients with melanoma and other cancers.

Carlos Ferrer, Justin Yang, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Peer Pederson, and Tom Clayton

The Institute feted two outstanding honorees whose contributions to cancer research—either through philanthropy and leadership or through scientific achievement—have made a significant impact in the Institute’s efforts to advance immunology to conquer cancer: Carlos A. Ferrer, who received the Oliver R. Grace Award for Distinguished Service in Advancing Cancer Research, and Michael J. Bevan, Ph.D., investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and professor of immunology at the University of Washington, who received the William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology.

The Institute was grateful to dinner co-chairs Peter J. Crowley, managing director, global head of healthcare investment, Oppenheimer & Co.; William M. Lewis Jr., co-chairman, investment banking, Lazard Ltd.; Wade F.B. Thompson, chairman, president, and CEO, Thor Industries, Inc.; and CRI co-chairmen of the Board of Trustees Donald J. Gogel and Andrew M. Paul.

Jim and Bronwen Kelly

Patrick and Pat McGrath

Kate McKenzie and Kirsten Evraire

Mark and Barbara Leswing with Daniela and Ted Lundberg

Cassie and Tom Clayton

Michael and Shasha Targoff

Leslie and Ed Mailhot

Jamie Kempner and Ann Croll

Kyle Pasewark, Vivian Blanco, and Laura Sullivan

Abby Smith and Frederick Johnston

David and Cindy Auth

Tricia Summers and Justin Yang

Leigh Abrams, Greg Curt, and Fred Zinn

Don Gogel, Georgia Wall, Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, and Ed McDermott

Jedd Wolchok, Elaine and Harold Wolchok, and Karen Popkin Wolchok

David Freeman with Cathy and John Weiland

Victoria and Andrew Simpson

Jedd D. Wolchok, Philip D. Greenberg, Donald J. Gogel, Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, Carlos A. Ferrer, Michael J. Bevan, and Andrew M. Paul

Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, Wade and Angela Thompson, and Jennifer McCormick

Rindy and Rosh Dias with Francois diTrapani

Virginia, Lorraine and Oliver Grace, Tom Seifert, and Mark Leswing

Jamie Kempner and Peter Crowley

Leigh McDermott, Abby Smith, and Ed McDermott

Joari DeMiranda, Joanna Barata, and Yu-chin Lo

Leslie Brille and David Lubin

Rob Gaynor, Todd Richter, Andrea Montone-Rinaldi, Brian Brille, and Bob Dahl

Lynne Harmer, Brian Brewer, and Kelsey Fowler

Carlos A. Ferrer and Andrew M. Paul

Michael & Shasha Targoff, Tom & Andrea Mendell, and Jack Spadden

Glenn and Ginger DeSimone

Bob, Yumiko, Harry, and Ariel Posner

Dr. Philip D. Greenberg and Dr. Michael J. Bevan

The Storm King Art Center, one of the country’s premiere sculpture parks, held its annual luncheon on June 7, at the site, in Mountainville, New York.

Guests celebrated the openings of two special exhibitions of works by American artists Sol LeWitt and Mark di Suvero, champagne toasts and tributes were offered to Storm King’s co-founder and chairman, H. Peter Stern, in honor of his eightieth birthday.

Ambassador and Mrs. W. L. Lyons Brown, he is former Ambassador to Austria; Bunty and Thomas N. Armstrong, he is chairman of the Garden Conservancy and former director of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Andy Warhol Museum; Mark di Suvero, sculptor; Irving and Lucy Sandler.

Some 250 guests attended the festive occasion, which took place under a massive tent with views of works by Alice Aycock (who was in attendance), Isamu Noguchi, Kenneth Snelson, and David Smith, among others, sited on the pristine landscape nearby.

Among those who spoke during the program were newly appointed president of the Board of Trustees John Stern; Storm King director and curator David R. Collens; Yale University Art Gallery Director Jock Reynolds; Mark di Suvero, and trustee James H. Ottaway, Jr.

David R. Collens, director and curator of the Storm King Art Center; Charlotte Dillon; Beatrice Stern, trustee of the Storm King Art Center; John P. Stern, president of the Storm King Art Center; H. Peter Stern, chairman of the Storm King Art Center; Lisa Stern, trustee of the Storm King Art Center; Helen W. Drutt English, scholar of modern and contemporary crafts.

Other art world luminaries in attendance were Thomas N. Armstrong, president of the Garden Conservancy and former the director of the Whitney Museum of American Art; Lucy C. Danziger, vice president, Executive Committee, the American Folk Art
Museum; the Duke of Devonshire, a new trustee; Morrison Heckscher, chairman of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Carol LeWitt, wife of the late
artist, and members of their family; Samuel C. Miller, director emeritus of The Newark Museum; Priscilla Morgan and Shoji Sadao, honorary life trustees of The Noguchi Museum; Irving and Lucy Sandler; Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff; and Adam D. Weinberg, director of the Whitney Museum of American Art and Storm King trustee.

After the luncheon, guests toured the special exhibitions and explored Storm King’s
exceptional collection of postwar sculptures, framed by sky and rolling landscape.

John P. Stern, Shoji Sadao, Tsuneko Sadao, and Priscilla Morgan

Rebecca Smith and Michael Coffey

James H. Ottaway, Jr., trustee of the Storm King Art Center, Helen W. Drutt English, Suzanne Hellmuth, and Jock Reynolds

Michael Klein and Alice Aycock

David R. Collens, Constantine Sidamon‐Eristoff, and Gail Messiqua

Samuel C. Miller, H. Peter Stern, and Helen W. Drutt English

Lisa Stern, H. Peter Stern, Henry H. Arnhold, and Fern and Herbert Galant

Catherine Morrison Golden and H. Peter Stern

H. Peter Stern, Nadine Witkin, and Fenella and Morrison Heckscher

Robert Mangold and Adam D. Weinberg, Director of the Whitney Museum and trustee of the Storm King Art Center

Helen W. Drutt English, Peter A. Bienstock, trustee of the Storm King Art Center, and Thomas N. Armstrong

Carol LeWitt and Helen W. Drutt English

The Duke of Devonshire

Lunching under the tent

Last Saturday night at the Wolffer Estate Vineyards in Sagaponack, Summer Solstice! Benefited the Group For the East End.

Co-Chairs were: Katherine and Marco Birch, Deni and Bill McChesney, Susan and Louis Meisel, Mary and Chris Pia, Jackie and Peter Schellbach, Nicole Miller and Kim Taipale and Mary and Ken Walker hosted Group for the East End’s Summer Solstice!.

They were joined by “Generation Green” Chair, Fabiola Beracasa. Other guests
included: Debbie Bancroft, Ann Colley, Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Charles Gargano, Douglas Hannant, Patty Raynes and Carmen Marc Valvo.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of Group for the East End’s annual benefit to raise much-needed funds for its environmental initiatives. The Summer Solstice! themed festivities included dinner, dancing and fabulous silent and live auctions conducted by Sotheby’s Vice President, Eliza Osborne. Summer Solstice! raised $1 million for Group for the East End.

Over the past 36 years, Group for the East End (The Group) has earned a proud reputation as the region’s leading environmental advocacy and education organization. The Group recently changed its name from Group for the South Fork to Group for the East End to reflect its activities across the North and South Forks and Shelter Island. The Group educates, mobilizes and empowers people of all ages to stand up for a healthy environment in the ever-expanding challenge to preserve one of the eastern seaboard’s most fragile ecosystems.