The Dedication of S.D. Women Hailed at ‘Parade’

SAN DIEGO — In “The Wizard of Oz,” it seems that whenever the townfolks wished to honor a fellow for his bravery, they pinned a medal on his chest and paraded the chap down Main Street.

The Women’s Auxiliary of the Salvation Army Door of Hope took a modern version of this approach in honoring its special friends, by dressing them up and parading them down hotel runways that also were used for major fashion presentations.

The Door of Hope auxiliary held its 22nd annual Women of Dedication luncheon Friday at the Hotel Inter-Continental Pavilion Ballroom.

The scene at the Women of Dedication affair was fantastic. The sheer size of the crowd was stunning--there seemed to be a veritable sea of women in the ballroom’s foyer, or, as one woman guest put it: “There are too many women here!” That view was not shared by event chairman Vicki Rogers, however, who belongs to the “the more the merrier” school of fund-raiser volunteers.

“This attendance puts us in a first-class, world-class category,” said Rogers, gesturing at a line of tables that stretched nearly out of sight. “There are 1,043 guests here today, which is of course a record, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that we will make in excess of $43,000 for the Door of Hope, which is awfully wonderful.”

This annual luncheon traditionally has had little trouble attracting out-sized crowds, simply because it gives the community an opportunity to honor some of the women volunteers whose labors help ensure the continued operation of the county’s cultural, charitable, educational and health institutions.

Honorees always take tables for themselves and their families, but many, many more are reserved by friends and by the institutions the honorees support. Thus, the sponsors’ list was fat with such mentions as “Friends of Liz Yamada” and “Neighbors of Luba Johnston,” and a smorgasbord of institutions from the La Jolla Opera Guild to the Naval Officers Wives Club.

Decorations chairmen Ingrid Hibben and Virginia Monday saw to it that this year’s 15 Women of Dedication marched down a kind of primrose path, by filling the room with immense baskets packed with potted primroses; the idea seemed to be to invite spring to make an early appearance.

The presentation followed a leisurely luncheon of Oriental chicken salad and layered ice cream cake. It was just long enough to allow the men who would serve as escorts to contemplate the awful length of the runway they would have to negotiate. And it was fun to watch the spouses and offspring who took on this task; all looked proud, but more than a few seemed relieved to step off the end of the ramp, and several bore far-away expressions that hinted at a spiritual presence on the golf course.

San Diego Union society writer Burl Stiff served as master of ceremonies, and as each woman and escort appeared on the stage, he recited the honoree’s civic accomplishments and contributions. Frequent interruptions of applause became the rule of the day; this year’s Women of Dedication were an especially popular and appreciated group.

First down the ramp was Carol Alessio, escorted by husband Michael. Noted for her chairmanship of January’s enormously successful Charity Ball, Alessio also has chaired two fund-raising luncheons for the University of San Diego, is a member of the Junior League, and leads her daughter’s Brownie troop.

1985 Jewel Ball chairman Pam Allison was escorted by her husband, Donald. Her past chairmanships include a pair of Country Friends “Appearance of Autumn” shows, the 1986 “Art Alive” event at the San Diego Museum of Art, and December’s “Visions of Gingerbread,” given for the San Diego Repertory Theatre.

Vangie Burt paced down the ramp on the arm of her husband, attorney Richard. She has served two terms as president of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, has twice chaired the San Diego Bar Assn. auxiliary’s Blackstone Ball, and chaired the 1985 “Return to Ragtime” gala for the American Cancer Society.

Next came Vickie Butcher, escorted by her husband, Dr. Richard. This former special education teacher attended law school after the birth of her fifth child, and now is a partner in an international trading school. She has volunteered in various programs promoting awareness of black history and achievement, and has served on the California State Advisory Board on Drug Programs, as well as in the San Diego County Medical Auxiliary and the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Assn.

St. Germaine Auxiliary founder Barbara Christensen navigated the ramp on the arm of husband Charles. A former president of the La Jolla Stage Company, Christensen also has served on the board of the La Jolla Social Service League and currently is on the board of “Voices for Children.”

La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art President Sue Edwards, escorted by her husband, Dr. Charles, was a founding member of the Museum of Modern Art in Washington and has served as vice president of the San Diego Museum of Art. Other volunteer positions have benefited the Junior League, the Old Globe Theatre and the San Diego Symphony.

Former Charity Ball chairman Fran Golden, escorted by husband Kenneth, has served on the board of Children’s Hospital, the Symphony Women’s Auxiliary Council and the Old Globe, and has chaired fund raisers for The Bishop’s School, COMBO, Mercy Hospital and the San Diego Opera.

Alyson Goudy, a former “Appearance of Autumn” chairman, was escorted by her husband, Dr. George; she is a parent volunteer at Torrey Pines High School and will be chairman of the coming National Charity League Spring Presentation.

Luba Johnston, a former fashion model, stole the show by appearing on the arm of her young grandson, John Desha IV. The past board member of Children’s Hospital chaired the Old Globe’s 50th anniversary gala and has sponsored events for the March of Dimes, St. Vincent de Paul Center and the Multiple Sclerosis Brunch Society.

Grace Malloy, a La Jolla League of the American Cancer Society founder and current society board member, was escorted by her husband, John. A founding member of the St. Germaine Auxiliary, she also serves the La Jolla Stage Company.

Shirley Rubel, escorted by her husband, David, serves as president of both the Women’s Auxiliary Council to the San Diego Symphony, and the UCSD School of Medicine Associates. This former president of five Naval Officers Wives Clubs also has served on the board of the La Jolla Opera Guild.

Alison Tibbitts, escorted by husband Jon, is a past president of the Univesity of San Diego Women’s Auxiliary and serves on the boards of the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis and the San Diego Museum of Art. She has held leadership positions in fund-raisers for Mercy Hospital, Children’s Hospital, COMBO and the San Diego Zoo.

Rusti Bartell Weiss, escorted by her son, Steven, has twice chaired the annual ball benefiting the San Diego Hebrew Home. This past president of the Hearst Elementary School P.T.A. received the National P.T.A. Honorary Service Award; she also is on the board of the United Jewish Federation, and is a Brownie troop leader and a Little League coach.

Dorene Whitney, escorted by her husband, John, is most noted for her chairmanship of the Symphony Hall opening night gala, the highest-grossing (at $730,000) fund-raiser in the city’s history. She was a board member of the San Diego Bar Auxiliary and serves on the board of the San Diego Opera and The Bishop’s School Headmaster’s Advisory Council.

Elizabeth Yamada, escorted by her husband, Joseph, holds a Phi Beta Kappa key and is a board member of the United Way and the S.D. Parks and Recreation Facilities Committee. She has served as co-chairman of the annual KPBS Auction, the Monte Carlo Ball, and San Diego State University’s Japanese Cultural Fair.

The presentation of the Women of Dedication was followed by a showing of designer Carolyne Roehm’s spring line. Saks Fifth Avenue-La Jolla staged the show.

The luncheon committee included Georgia Borthwick, Ruth Carpenter, Athena May, Emmy Cote, Alice Zukor, Traudl Stangl, Charlotte Nielsen, Dian Peet, Mary de Brunner, Ralphine Greaves, Ernie Grimm, Lilo Miller, Betty Tharp, Pat Keating and Harriet Levi.