Influential gather for Pilot luncheon

Jennifer K Mahal

Red, white and blue was the unstated theme for the Daily Pilot’s

annual 103 luncheon Tuesday as more than 60 of Newport-Mesa’s “most

influential people” gathered at the Center Club to mix and mingle.

The event, which honors the people on the DP 103 list (published Sept.

26), had police chiefs rubbing elbows with pastors and volleyball gurus

sitting next to attorneys.

With Sept. 11 and its repercussions still resonating with the

community, luminaries from former Newport Beach Arts Commissioner Don

Gregory to Hoag Hospital fund-raiser Arden Flamson could be found showing

the flag.

Gregory, a theater producer whose son works for NBC news, shared a

personal connection to the World Trade Center tragedy -- he was part

owner of the center’s observation deck.

“I spent two weeks watching it come down over and over,” shared

Gregory. “That was enough.”

He added his strong belief that people should move on and live their

lives.

Assemblyman John Campbell came by for a few minutes but had to leave

-- after a longing glance at the goat cheese and baby green salad --

because of a speaking engagement at the Corona del Mar Chamber of

Commerce.

A sumptuous feast of roast chicken with sun-dried tomato, artichoke

and basil cream sauce awaited those who stayed.

In the sea of black and navy suits and dresses, Balboa Peninsula

resident Gay Wassall-Kelly added a spot of color with her blazing red

ensemble. However, it was the giant black swan she brought with her that

caught many an eye. The plush stuffed replica of Rupert the Black Swan

stood in for the real Rupert, who shared Wassall-Kelly’s number (54) on

the 103 list.

Jerry Mandel, president of the Orange County Performing Arts Center,

spoke happily to his table of his first rehearsal for a performance with

Daily Pilot society columnist B.W. Cook. Mandel will play saxophone and

Cook will sing at a Center event Nov. 8.

“First rehearsal is always interesting,” Mandel said. “I surprised

him; he surprised me.”

Mandel commented that it’s fun to be on the other side -- the

performing side -- of the Center.

Don Oliver, president of the Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council,

gave the invocation for the meal, encouraging people to give one another

spiritual comfort.

Before the dessert of miniature chocolate and vanilla bean creme

brulees was served, Pilot Editor Tony Dodero opened the afternoon’s

program with a lighthearted series of jokes -- one of which, having to do

with Jim Silva’s absence due to the Board of Supervisors’ El Toro vote,

accidentally was ruined by Newport Beach Councilman Gary Proctor.

The joke had to do with the Pilot getting news of how Silva voted on

the issue. Proctor, ever helpful, was happy to let everyone know that the

issue had been postponed for a week -- letting the cat out of the bag.

Robert Barbot, superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District, gave a short talk on Bond Measure A, followed by a presentation

by Gregg Schwenk, Newport Beach Film Festival’s executive director, on

the films to watch this holiday season.

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa’s fire chiefs, Tim Riley and Jim Ellis,

spoke on what their departments have been going through since Sept. 11.

“The difference is that a lot more people say thank you,” Riley said.

After Estancia High School teacher Pauline Maranian led the group in a

stirring rendition of “God Bless America,” Rabbi Mark Miller of Temple

Bat Yahm did the closing invocation.

With so much out of our control, Miller reminded us of the effect we

can have on one another in a community. Using a baseball story to

illustrate his point, Miller asked the crowd to stand up for one another

as individuals.

“Let it be said that even if we’ve struck out, our intent was so

righteous that it was as if we hit a grand slam home run,” he said.

* JENNIFER K MAHAL is features editor for the Daily Pilot. She can be

reached at (949) 574-4282 or e-mailed at [email protected].