Standards of Excellence

Guests watching Shakespeare performance of Timon of Athens at Natalie and Malcolm Pray's greenwich home for their Queen's Diamond Jubilee Garden Party.

Hospital for Special Surgery, ranked number one in the country for orthopedics and number two for rheumatology, raised more than $2.6 million at its 29th Annual Tribune Dinner Monday night at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The generous donations of more than 1,000 guests made this the most successful fundraiser in HSS history. Meredith Vieira, host of the popular television show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and an NBC News special correspondent, served as toastmaster. She was joined by Ronnie P. Barnes, senior vice president for Medical Services for the New York Giants, and Giants rookie running back David Wilson. William C. Weldon, chairman of Johnson and Johnson, was honored at the event, and Dr. Torsten N. Wiesel, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who serves on the HSS Board of Trustees, received the Distinguished Service Award. Renowned spine surgeon and former chief of Spine Service at HSS, Dr. Patrick F. O’Leary was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Also in attendance were HSS President and CEO Louis A. Shapiro; celebrated sculptor Richard Serra; actor Peter Jacobson from the television show House;David McCallum from the television show NCIS; Shelly Lazarus, Chairman of Ogilvy and Mather; Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault, CEO of American Express and HSS Trustee and Dinner Chair, respectively; and The Honorable David Dinkins, former mayor of New York City.

Carol Lyden, Dr. John Lyden, and Jennifer Lyden

David Wilson and Meredith Vieira

Dr. Earnest Sink, Paula Sink, Dr. Thomas Sculco, Dr. Jane Salmon, and Dr. Jerry Gilklich

Dr. Hollis Potter, Dr. Russell Warren, Laurie Warren, and Dr. William Potter

Dr. Mary Crow and Patricia Warner

Dr. Mayman and Alana Mayman

Dr. Patrick O'Leary, Katie O'Leary, Christine O'Leary, and Suzanne O'Leary

Dr. Thomas Sculco and Nobel Prize Winner Torsten N. Wiesel

Elizabeth Medbala and Danielle Edwards

Former Mayor David Dinkins and wife Joyce Dinkins

Katherine Carpenter, David McCallum, and Emilia Saint-Amand

Louis Shapiro, Ronnie Barnes, and Dr. David Helfet

Meredith Vieira and Louis Shapiro

Paula and Dr. Leon Root

Richard and Clara Serra

Ronnie Barnes, David Wilson, and Dr. Russell Warren

Sandra and Aldo Papone

Shelly and George Lazarus

Susan and Elihu Rose with Anne and Dr. David Altchek

William Weldon, Meredith Vieira, and Dean O'Hare

Calvary Hospital’s 29th Annual Awards Gala took place on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at The Pierre in New York City. More than 450 guests attended and the evening raised nearly $1,100,000 to benefit Calvary Hospital.  Ed Gilligan, Vice Chairman, American Express Company received The Calvary Medal in recognition of his distinguished corporate and civic leadership and outstanding philanthropic commitment to the Calvary mission.

Dr. Michael Brescia, Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, Terence Gallagher, Thomas Ferrara, and John A. Decina

American Express Company; Louis J. Cappelli, Chairman, Sterling National Bank; Louise M. Parent and John P. Casaly; Evan R. Chesler, Esq., Presiding Partner, Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP; Arthur B. Crozier, Chairman, Innisfree MandA; Vijay D’Silva, Director, McKinsey and Company; David P. DiCristofaro, Partner, KPMG LLP; Michael Esposito, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs and Co.; Thomas J. Fahey, Jr. M.D., Senior Vice President, Emeritus, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Chairman of the Board, Calvary Hospital; Terence J. Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Governance Associates LLC; Steven J. Golub, Chairman of the Board, Calvary Fund; Charles J. Groppe, Esq., Putney, Twombly, Hall and Hirson, LLP; Carlos M. Hernandez, Managing Director, Global Head of Equities, J.P. Morgan, Investment Bank; Henry J. Humphreys; Eugene A. Ludwig, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Promontory Financial Group, LLC; Martha E. McGarry, Esq., Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP; William A. McKenna, Jr., Chairman Emeritus, Ridgewood Savings Bank; Asheet Mehta, Leader, Americas Banking and Securities Practice, McKinsey and Company; Joseph J. Morrow, Chief Executive Officer, Morrow and Co., LLC; Eileen T. Nugent, Esq., Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP; Kathleen L. Rezza, Secretary, Catholic Institute of the Food Industry; Travel and Entertainment Coordinator, Krasdale Foods, Inc.; Liz Hilton Segel, Director, McKinsey and Company; Gerald C. Tobin, Esq., Chairman, Calvary Professional Advisors Council and Kendrick R. Wilson III, Vice Chairman, BlackRock were the Dinner Co-Chairs.

Frank Calamari, Frank D'Amelio, Roger Golub, and Steven J. Golub

Mary and William Buckley, Diahn W. and Thomas McGrath, and Kathleen and Stratford Wallace were the Gala Co-Chairs.   John A. Decina, AIA, Chief Executive Officer, Barr and Barr, Inc. and Dennis M. Schneider, President, Transervice Lease Corp. were the Journal Co-Chairs. The festivities for this black-tie gala began at 6:30 PM.  Broadway’s Melissa Errico gave a special performance and the Master of Ceremonies was John R. Gambling, Host of WOR’s The John Gambling Show.

Claire and Carlos Hernandez

Mary Buckley and Anne Coté Taylor

Diahn McGrath and Tom McGrath

From its inception in 1899, Calvary Hospital has been devoted to providing palliative care to adult patients in the advanced stages of cancer, addressing the symptoms of the disease, not its cure. Operated in connection with the Archdiocese of New York, Calvary is a voluntary, not-for-profit hospital, embodying a tradition of caring through its many programs and services.  The cornerstone of Calvary’s program of service is its philosophy of compassionate care to meet the emerging physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of both patients and families through the provision of acute inpatient, outpatient, home and hospice services (through Calvary@Home), wound care services and satellite services. Through the Palliative Care Institute the Hospital transmits to other health care professionals, through research and education, the knowledge and competence which it has developed in the care of the advanced cancer patient. The National Cancer Institute designated Calvary as the International Standard of Excellence for Palliative Care.

Thomas J. Fahey, Jr., M.D. and Eleanor Fahey

Marjory Gengler Smith and Stan Smith

John R. Gambling

Ed Gilligan, Faye Golub, and Steven J. Golub

Frank Calamari and Ed Gilligan

Steven J. Golub, Ed Gilligan, and Louise Parent

Gillian Mestre and Diana Quasha

On Monday, April 30th, French Heritage Society (FHS) in partnership with the Fondation Royaumont hosted a benefit concert at a Private Residence on the Upper East Side with the participation of internationally-acclaimed French Opera star, Natalie Dessay, and pianist Philippe Cassard. The sold-out event was held under the patronage of His Excellency François Delattre, Ambassador of France to the U.S.; The Honorable Philippe Lalliot, Consul General of France in New York; and Mr. Antonin Baudry Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy.

The crowd waiting for the concert to begin

Natalie Dessay delighted guests with soaring high notes and beautiful songs by celebrated French composer Claude Debussy, as well as Emmanuel Chabrier, Ernest Chausson, and Henri DuParc, evoking a real “fin de siècle” ambiance in the old-worldly music room where the concert was held.  Ms. Dessay was accompanied by pianist Philippe Cassard with whom she recently released a CD featuring Debussy songs which were sung at this event. Ms. Dessay very rarely sings recitals and Mr. Cassard crossed the Atlantic solely for this benefit concert. The evening, sponsored by Hermès of Paris,  honored the historical and beautiful Fondation Royaumont whose home is the royal Royaumont Abbey north of Paris near Chantilly, built by no other than Saint-Louis himself in the 13th century.   FHS Chairman Elizabeth Stribling, and NY Chapter Co-Chairmen Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt and Guy N. Robinson, as well as other French and American notables were present. Representing Royaumont were Marquise Françoise de Lastic and her son, the Marquis Anne-François de Lastic, as well as the foundation’s Director Francis Maréchal.

Natalie Dessay

Marina French and guests speaking with Natalie Dessay after the concert

Among the guests were also: Eleanor Alger, Cetie Ames, Gerard and Susan Baker, Joel Bell and Marifé Hernández, Danielle Bellanger, CeCe and Lee Black, Jacques and Katharina Bouhet, Robert and Suzanne Chute, Yann Coatanlem, David and Adele Gray, Jean-Claude and Christiane Gruffat, Brian and Pascale Haineline, Kathy Irwin, Herbert Kasper, Mike and Joan Kahn, Diony and Denis Lebot, Michel Longchampt, Peter Malachi, Judy McLaren, Filippe and Renata Propper de Callejon, Catherine Reynal, Patricia Selch, Greg and Nathalie Selch, Jason and Deborah Selch, and Elizabeth Stafford. French Heritage Society was founded in 1982 as a two way street for Americans and French to share their love of historic architecture. FHS has contributed to almost 500 restoration grants and helped secure almost $18 million dollars for historic monuments, buildings and gardens in every department in France and to properties in the United States that reflect France’s historic influence. FHS has intervened after numerous natural disasters such as the 1999 storms in France and Hurricanes Hugo and Katrina in the U.S. FHS also organizes unique student internship opportunities in both countries and offers enriching cultural trips in France and the U.S. for its members. There are 13 Chapters in the United States and one in Paris.

Francis Maréchal, Katharina Bouhet, Jean-Jacques and Christine de Saint Andrieu, and Michel Longchampt

Peter Malachi, Natalie Dessay, and Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt

Guy Robinson, Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt, Elizabeth Stribling, and Natalie Dessay

Greg Joye, Peter Malachi, Philippe Cassard, and Francis Maréchal

Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt, Diony and Denis Lebot, and Natalie Dessay

Lee Black, Adele and David Gray, and CeCe Black

Françoise de Lastic and Aldo Cardoso

Nathalie and Greg Selch, Patricia Selch, and Jason and Deborah Selch

Jacqueline and Bob Arnold

Patricia Selch, CeCe Black, and Deborah Selch

Natalie Dessay, Philippe Cassard, and Francis Maréchal

Emmanuel Morlet, Anne-Sophie Autran, and Jacques Bouhet

Natalie and Malcolm Pray invited members of The English Speaking Union to The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Garden Party at their home on 17 June 2012. The Guest of Honour, Nicholas Astbury, British Deputy Consul-General representing Her Majesty, gave the toast to The Queen. A Greenwich participant in the Shakespeare Competition, Lauren Eames, performed her winning monologue from Timon of Athens. Malcolm Pray's Rolls Royces were on the lawn, champagne and strawberries under the tent, and many ladies in fascinating hats swanning around the gardens.

Malcolm Pray’s Rolls Royces

Kate, James, and Barbara Reibel

Rodney and Jennifer Johnson, Lady Weatherstone, Nicholas Astbury, and Irene and William Miller

Leslie and Robert Lawrence with The Delahaye

Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Sue Baker, John and Marion Wyman, and Michael Kovner

Debbie Hamilton, John Wyman, and Elly Bruynes

Christy and Michael Sagalyn

Malcolm Pray, Stephen deAngelis, Natalie Pray, Victor Stewart, and Nicholas Astbury

Robert and Kathleen Whitby with Jan du Bois

Jill and Peter Tesei and children

Lauren Eames and Anne Elser

Kate Reibel, Lucy and Nat Day, Natalie Pray, and Barbara Reibel

Jill Tesei

Susan Ness and Lucy Day

Kevin and Jennifer Smith, Natalie Pray, Brigid Barry, and Mary Fernand

Jennifer and Rodney Johnson, and Lady Weatherstone

Mark Robinson and Helen Corroon

Michael Kovner, Anne Elser, and Jean Doyen de Montaillou

Charlotte Greene, and Warren and Louisa Greene

Natalie and Malcolm Pray

Marianne Wyman

Jean Doyen de Montaillou and Lynne Wheat

Nicholas Astbury, British Deputy Consul General, Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Natalie Pray, and Michael Kovner

The 30th Fred and Adele Astaire Awards would have made their namesakes proud as the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU stage sparkled with elegant dance numbers, athletic jumps and soaring leaps thanks to an endless supply of brilliant dancers – both newbies and veterans. Following red carpet arrivals and an elegant cocktail reception, guests filed in quickly to the handsome theater with its perfect sightlines from every seat. At once a video montage began reminding one and all of the great artistry of the legendary performers. Then a tiny boy – Luke Spring – walked onto the stage, put on his tap shoes and then dazzled the sophisticated crowd with his mesmerizing footwork comparable to one of Fred Astaire's. "He would have been very pleased with that performance," Astaire's daughter Ava Astaire McKenzie said, as jaws dropped and the audience began a thunderous ovation.

Newsies take flight choreographed by nominee Christopher Gattelli

Producer Patricia Watt and Ava Astaire McKenzie – daughters of the Astaire Awards co-founders Douglas Watt and Fred Astaire respectively – welcomed one and all and presented a special Founder’s Award to three time Tony Award winning producer Kathleen Raitt. Jessica Zippin who heads up the Dance and Movement Therapy Program for Autistic children, one of the evening’s beneficiaries gave a moving speech on the power of dance to even reach, the sometimes unreachable. Award winning filmmaker Albert Maysles and actor John Turtorro paired to present the award for Outstanding Director of a Dance Documentary to the director of “Pina”.  Tamara Tunie and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps presented the award for Excellence in Choreography in Film to “The Artist”.

Steppin' Out Dancers perform New York City Rhythm with vocalist Richard H. Blake

Joe Lanteri, Founder and Director of NYC Dance Alliance Foundation and director of the Astaire Awards show gave heartfelt testimony as to why dance lifts the mind, the soul and has its own healing abilities. He then introduced 18 year-old Shannen O’Neill who performed to a special arrangement of Gershwin’s “S’Wonderful” that had the crowds cheering. Moments later, she accepted the 2nd Adele Astaire Scholarship from award-winning choreographer and director Rob Ashford.  Adding to the excitement was a group of 14-18 year old boys who charged to the stage to perform a high energy, athletic turn of the anthemic “Seize the Days” from the smash musical “Newsies” choreographed by Astaire Nominee Christopher Gatelli that left the crowd breathless. And all, this with only two days of training in the “Newsies Boot Camp”.

The Original cast of Fosse in a special tribute to Bob Fosse

As the evening promised, there was a special tribute to legendary dancer Gwen Verdon and the inimitable Bob Fosse with the original cast from “Fosse” re-creating their critically acclaimed performances in several Fosse numbers. The troupe wowed the audience who thought the evening could not get better – and then it did as presenter Chita Rivera flashing lots of leg strode to the stage. Clearly thrilled to be there honoring her longtime pal, Chita shared stories of Liza Minnelli taking over the lead in Chicago from Gwen Verdon and feigned falling asleep as she read the seemingly endless credits of her pal Liza who was to receive The Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award ending with “and last week she won the Indy 500”. Liza laughed uproariously and was tickled when Marvin Hamlisch termed her Kander and Ebb’s “muse” and Tony Danza said,  “She's a standup, knock around broad," by way of tribute. The surprise was tripled when her old dancing partner - on and off stage - Mikhail Baryshnikov stepped out on the stage and led the group in presenting her the award. Misha had snuck into the theater after Liza and the guests were seated.  Needless to say there were several standing ovations and Liza strode to stage center basking in the adulation.

2012 Fred and Adele Astaire Outstanding Choreographers Ronald K. Brown, Porgy and Bess

Actor John Turtorro and famed filmmaker Albert Maysles

-Honoree Kathleen Raitt and Producer Patricia Watt

But the evening did not end there. Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba presented the Award for Best Male Dancer on Broadway to Leslie Odom, Jr. (Leap of Faith); Lee Roy Reams and Melissa Errico presented the Award for Best Female Dancer on Broadway to Lisa Nicole Wilkerson (Porgy and Bess); and five time Astaire Award winning choreographer Susan Stroman and “Smash” choreographer Josh Bergasse presented the Excellence in Choreography on Broadway Award to Ronald K. Brown (Porgy and Bess). Odom Jr. shared a telling story about fellow honoree Liza Minnelli and a middle of the night call he received from her after "Leap of Faith's" less-than-favorable reviews came in. "Leslie, you're fabulous!" Minnelli said. "And smile on your bows”.

Presenters Tamara Tunie and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps

Choreographer Rob Ashford present Shannen O'Neill with Adele Astaire Scholarship

The show came to a rousing close with a group of some 40 young dancers from Steppin’ Out a small studio in Missouri performing an electric, tear up the stage, specially created number set to Barry Manilow’s “New York city Rhythm while Broadway vocalist Richard H. Blake sang. Following the show, guests including Liza and entourage moved up to the Fifth Floor Grand Hall with its dead-on views looking up Fifth Avenue to The Empire State Building. The stunning setting was the ideal location and brought the elegance of another era back for the likes of Elissa Stein, Caroline Lieberman, Dr. Penny Grant, Pamela Morgan, Lionel Casseroux, Jacquelin Murphy, Regina Kravitz, Randi Rahm, Andrew Wargo, Ronny Cohen, Edward Hummel, Jennifer Taylor, Kat Schaffer, Kathleen Marshall, Teri Gold, Ella Baff, Susan Burnside, Scarlett Pildes, Matt Sandy of sponsor Medea Vodka.

Mikhail Baryshnikov, Honoree Liza Minnelli, and Tony Danza

The extraordinary celebration of dance was presented by Ava Astaire McKenzie and The Douglas Watt Family Fund for the Performing Arts and benefited the Fund’s Dance and Movement Therapy Program and The NYC Dance Alliance. Executive Producer, Patricia Watt. Producer, NYC Dance Alliance. Associate Producers Sarah Bierstock and Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Writer Jenny Lyn Bader, Stage Manager, Lionel A. Christian, Lighting Designer, Keith A. Truax, Assistant Lighting designer Simone Zwarenstein, Wardrobe Supervisor and Video, Website and Program Design, Kevin Harkins. The Honorary Chairs Emeritus for The Astaire Awards were Jacques Azoulay, Countess Luann DeLesseps and Wendy Federman. The Gala Chairs were Carolyn Kendall Buchter and Alix Michel and the Benefit Chair Sara Johnson Kaplan. Sponsors included New York City Dance Alliance, Capezio, Studio Vendome and The Lambs Club.

Steppi' Out Dance Troupe form Missouri

The Vendome Family

Producer Bruce Robert Harris and Edward Hummel

Nominee Sergio Trujillo

The original cast of Fosse reunited

Astaire Award winners Ronald K. Brown and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson w/ Arcell Cabuag

Jacquelin Murphy, Honorary Chair Emeritus Wendy Federman and Pamela Morgan

Robert Hartwell, Kelli O'Hara, Associate Producer Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Matthew Broderick, and Matt Sandy

Smash choreographer Josh Bergasse

Nominee Rob Ashford

Ashley Amber, Elena Roger, Carolyn Kendall Buchter, and Bahiyah Hibab

Nominees Patti Murrin and Jason Tam

Tap whiz Luke Spring with director Joe Lanteri

Wendy Federman, Carl Moellenberg, Jamie De Roy, and Andy Sandberg

Law and Order star Tamara Tunie

5-time Astaire Award winner Susan Stroman

Cast and producers of Check Your Body at the Door

Filmmaker Albert Maysles

Composer Marvin Hamlisch

Director Joe Lanteri, Ava Astaire McKenzie, and scholarship winner Shannen O'Neill

Clif de Raita, Caroline Lieberman, and Bruce Michael

Jacquelin Murphy and Benefit Chair Sara Johnson Kaplan

Lee Roy Reams, Chita Rivera, Joe Lanteri

Joe Lanteri, Alix Michel, Matthew Broderick, Patricia Watt, Kelli O'Hara, and Robert Hartwell

Terri Gold, Alix Michel, Jen Bank, and Susan Burnside

Patricia Watt, Jenny Lyn Bader, and Elisa Stein

Winner Ronald K. Brown, Ava Astaire McKenzie and winners Lisa Nicole Wilkerson and Leslie Odom, Jr.

Tia Walker and Dr. Penny Grant

Jacquelin Murphy and Jennifer Taylor

Chita Rivera and Ava Astaire McKenzie with a friend

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and her mother give hugs to Tony Danza and Liza Minnelli

Honorary Chair Emeritus Countess LuAnn de Lesseps

Sue Phillips

Old pals Tony Danza and Honoree Liza Minnelli

Photographs by Cutty McGill (Jubilee Garden Party); Patrick McMullan (Astaire Awards).