Stainton Society brunch draws a large crowd

May 14, 2008
The 19th annual Stainton Society brunch was held at Caesars Palladium Ballroom last Sunday. Marion McCaughey, who knows Caesars like the back of her hand, led our entourage through the casino to our destination. Jim and I caught up with our former neighbor, Nancy Moore, and her husband, Judson, when we stopped to pick up our name cards. Leaders Alliance co-chair, Krissy Roberts, arrived early with husband, Michael, and Karen and Tom Heist. Barbara and Richard Long stood near the entrance as they were two of the selected few meeting for pictures before the brunch with keynote speaker Robin Roberts. Sharon Stabley was busy taking pictures for the hospital and turned the tables and took several of this columnist. Debbie Given introduced me to her fiancée, Patrick Jewels. Debbie and Patrick both have horses and plan to purchase a farm when they get married. I stopped to chat with Jeanne Robinson, Carol Boland and Dorothy and Homer Gerken while they enjoyed the social hour. Tyra Payant is still walking the Boardwalk even though she’s using a cane since she broke her foot. Peggy Lloyd told me to mark my calendar for the Ocean City Art Center’s summer luncheon July 8. Melva Bailey and Ted Vaughn enjoyed the brunch, but with the sun shining outside Ted wanted to be on his boat. Bob Blevin didn’t look the worse for wear after carting home wife Gail’s purchases at the Block Party Saturday. Bob asked me what he should expect when the chamber roasts him on June 25 that he wants it to be a casual dress affair. John Shirk looked patriotic in a blue and white seersucker jacket and red and white stripe shirt accented with a red, white and blue bow tie he admitted he wore just for me.
Andy Skibo is going to be spending more time in Ocean City since he’s no longer working on the West Coast but in Maryland much to delight of wife, Leslie. After working his first Block Party at the Exchange Club’s refreshment stand Saturday, Curt Gronert and wife, Linda, attended their first Stainton Society brunch. Pat Gum arrived in style when Caesar’s gave her a wheel chair to use while at the brunch and husband, Dick, squired her around at the social hour. Gazette publisher, Rick Travers, and wife, Brenda, were glad to see I was on the job taking lots of pictures for my column. Bob Garrett sported a bowtie with bumble bees while wife, Mary, looked lovely in a pale pink suit. Champagne must be the “in” color this spring as Jean Jacobson, Rody O’Rourke, Lynne Hughes, Janie Halliday and this columnist all showed up at the brunch in suits or dresses in this shade. As guests headed into the ballroom for brunch Jean looked for her associate from Ocean City Home Bank, Trish Ciliberto, who was late. On the way to my table I stopped to chat with Ann Richardson, who sported a bright fuchsia twin sweater set and flower print skirt. Ann enjoyed the brunch with her father, Ed Johnson. Robin Crowley was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Robin Roberts as she wanted her to sign her book. I caught up with Frank LoBiondo, Marie Hayes, Julie Dattilo, George Savastano, Pat Fitzsimons and June Heun then joined my husband and Irene and George Reeves, Carol Heenan, Eric Wakabayashi and Marion and Ned McCaughey as Al Gutierrez announced brunch would begin in five minutes. Eric pulled out his cell phone and called Fred and Susan Miller only to find out they were wandering around the casino and couldn’t find the ballroom so Eric guided them in and they found their way to our table as emcee Bill Elliott welcomed everyone and thanked Stainton Society members for the more than $1.1 million in contributions that will help Shore Memorial Hospital acquire a new PET/CT scanner, the most advanced cancer detection technology available. Thanks to Joe Harrington who scared up several programs as we didn’t have any on our table.
The staff at Caesars quickly guided the over 600 guests to the sumptuous buffet tables located on both sides of the ballroom. Debby Murphy stopped by our table to show us what she chose at the buffet to whet our appetites. I chatted with Doug Walker as we filled our plates at the fabulous buffet, however when I was the first back to our table I didn’t want to sit and eat alone so I joined Winnie Piriano and Edith Kemble at the next table till our gang returned. After eating I stopped to talk with Debbie and Richard Booth and Eleanor and John Parker. After spending the winter at their homes in Williamsburg and Florida, Debbie and Richard are glad to be home in Ocean City for the summer. Eleanor and John are enjoying their first year of retirement playing golf and sailing and recently visited daughter, Lisa, in Hawaii. Ronnie Town has been so busy she hasn’t had time to walk the boards and hasn’t seen the new lights between Ninth and 10th streets. With just minutes till the program was to start I rushed to check out the dessert table where I caught up with Trude Matthews, Nancy Seidel, Susan Shirk and Eleanor Eason. I got back to our table as Stainton Society Campaign co-chairs, Jay Gillian and Patti Lees, presented the five, 10 and 15 year awards. Then Jay and Patti introduced their successors for next year’s campaign, Janet Galante and Brian Broadley. Art Ford announced the chairman’s award recipient, the estate of Jeanne B. Dixon then introduced Jeanne’s daughter, Barbara Diefenbeck, who praised the staff as Shore Memorial Hospital for helping her daughter through difficult times. Scott Halliday introduced Roy Gillian, who served on the hospital board for over 30 years. Roy recalled with much fondness his appreciation to Howard Stainton who sold him the land at Sixth and the Boardwalk in the early sixties the site where over the years Roy built his empire. Roy also thanked Shore Memorial for saving his life not once, but twice, the first time when he was 9 and again in 2003 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Today Roy is cancer free and living the “good life,” winters in Florida and summers in Ocean City.
Guest speaker Robin Roberts, co-anchor of “Good Morning America,” received a standing ovation when she stood at the podium poised to speak. Having shed had wig Robin sported a short hairstyle as she recounted her battle with breast cancer, the bad days and the “embarrassment” of an athletic woman who reported on health issues admitting she was ill. Robin held the hometown audience in the palm of her hands during her 45 minute talk then graciously met and talked to those who crowded around as she left the stage despite the fact she had a plane to catch for D.C. Hank Glaser got a kiss from Robin when he presented her with a large gift basket filled with Ocean City goodies including Shrivers Salt Water Taffy. We chatted with Cathy and John Flood then I caught up with Gerry Essick carrying one of the beautiful ceramic bowl centerpieces filled with pink roses while she looked for husband, Joe, to lend a hand. While Marion headed to the casino to gamble, Carol, Irene and I were off to shop at The Pier at Caesars while Jim, Ned, Eric and George strolled the Boardwalk on this beautiful sunny afternoon.



 

Judson and Nancy Moore, Tom and Karen Heist and Krissy and Michael Roberts arrive at the Stainton Society brunch.

Curt and Linda Gronert, Cathy and Jim Finnegan and Effie and Richard Russell enjoy the Stainton Society brunch.

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Roy and Pat Gillian and Jay and Michele Gillian enjoy meeting Robin Roberts, co-anchor of ABC News Good Morning America, and featured guest speaker at the 19th annual Stainton Society brunch.

Charles and Nancy Cristella, Andy and Leslie Skibo and Rody and Sean O’Rourke get together at the brunch .

 Glenn and Beth Darby, Gam and Betty Broadley, Debby Murphy and Art Ford relax at the brunch.

Frank and Susan Faverzani chat with Bill and Sandy McMahon, Bill McMahon Jr. and Maura and Bob Primus.

Tony and Janet Galante, Bill Elliott, Joe Di’Orio and Gloria Klause pose for a picture at the brunch.