Nell Nolan: Tocqueville Award, Ochsner Imagination Gala, Red Mass Reception, Faulkner gala
Glad-Handing!
A Tocqueville Tribute
“We are here to celebrate the incredible journey of Robert W. Merrick,” began Ronnie Stone, United Way of Southeast Louisiana board chair, as he opened the formalities during a gala dinner. The venue was the Ritz-Carlton and the occasion, the Alexis de Tocqueville (Society) Lifetime Achievement Award Celebration, a first. The society, a group of “transformational philanthropic leaders committed to investing in our community,” was formed in 1985 by C. Allen Favrot. He was remembered in the printed program, as was the late John K. Roberts Jr.
Bob Merrick, chairman of the board of Latter & Blum Inc., has dedicated much of his adult life to improving our region, both financially and in volunteerism. Among those at his table were spouse Sheryl, Lacey M. and Jason Conway, Christine M. and Andrew Stewart, Elizabeth Merrick, Susan Merrick, Amanda M. and Justin Seale, Eutemio “Chico” Chin Ruiz, Patricia M. and Vernon Brinson, and Adele and Justin Duplantis.
Event headliners were Ronnie Stone with spouse Celeste and daughter Diane Jackson; from UWSELA, President and CEO Michael Williamson with Kim and Campaign Chair Paul Matthews with Sarah; and Andrew “Drew” Marsh, Entergy board chairman and CEO, with Lynn. (“Happy Birthday” was sung to Drew.) The top sponsorship, Dauphine, came from the Goldring Family Foundation & Woldenberg Foundation, and Ms. Mackenzie Scott was the major donor to the United Way Tocqueville Society.
Attractions of the evening included an auction with 10 prized items (including jewelry and staycations), a NOCCA alumni trio (whose “The Girl from Ipanema” was a hit), and a delicious dinner of Million-Dollar Salad (roasted beets), Sportsman’s Short Rib, and a dessert duo. Among the many breaking bread were Henry and Karen Coaxum, Barbara Kaplinsky, Tony and Dana Adams, Susan Hess, Paul and Donna Flower, Darvelle Hutchins, Meaghan McCormack, Kat Milligan, Ashley Hilsman, and for tributes to Bob Merrick, Hancock Whitney Bank President and friend Joseph S. Exnicios (with Debbie), who addressed “Merrick Moments” Career and Friendship”; and Bob’s daughter, Christine Stewart, who talked about family and life’s lessons, saying “Tonight we are honoring a remarkable man (who) believes everyone has potential.”
Let’s Imagine!
The Sugar Mill was abuzz with excitement when the Imagination Gala unfolded to benefit Ochsner Hospital for Children. See-Hear Productions, Element, and Fancy Faces teamed to decorate; Got Groove did just that musically; Dr. Gina Gendy-Guirguis and Jessica Denis donated 250 bottles of Wild Bush wine for the wine spin; Dr. Jessica Mouledoux was the Abigail Reller Art Experience raffle winner; and 12 Seasons Catering fed the festive flock. A significant moment occurred when a video by Jessie Hill, father of Amelia Hill who received a lifesaving liver transplant, was shown. As part of the program, Ochsner Health CEO Pete November and Drs. Robert Hart, Vincent “Butch” Adolph and William “Billy” Lennarz gave a presentation on the hospital’s future of pediatric care.
More stellar names were gala co-chairs Brittany Baker McGregor and Dr. Kristin Van Hook, Ochsner Health President and COO Mike Hulefeld, Gayle Benson, David and Meredith Griffin, Townsend Underhill, Eric Crozier, Darren Rozas, Keith and Kevin Clement, Ken Flower and countless others who rallied for the kids.
Red Mass
The tradition of the Red Mass goes back many centuries in Rome, Paris and London, and was inaugurated in 1928 in New York City by the Guild of Catholic Lawyers. In Louisiana, the first celebration was in Saint Louis Cathedral in 1953. Derived from the color of the vestments of the celebrants and others, the ceremony has officially opened the judicial year and, in its many locations, is attended by justices and judges and “by persons of all faiths,” who pray for guidance in the administration of justice.
On a recent Monday morning, the annual observance took place in the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France with Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond as the celebrant; the Very Rev. Thomas P. Greene, SJ, the homilist; and, as readers Louisiana State Bar Association member Stephen J. Herman, Judge Nakisha Ervin-Knott, and Deacon Jody Fortunato. Additional ceremony notables were St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association President Judge Daniel Dysart, mistress of ceremonies Eve Ann Vavrick, cantor Sarah Jane McMahon Briscoe, organist Jesse Reeks, and the cathedral choir.
Afterward, they headed to the Bourbon Orleans Hotel for brunch, where red roses by Adrian’s Florist embellished the tables in the reception room. Noticed, too, were the Association’s banner. Enjoying the judicial bonhomie were Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John Weimer, Mrs. Dysart, Loyola Law School Dean Madeleine Landrieu, and from St. Thomas Moore, past presidents F. Evans Schmidt and Judges Raymond S. Steib, Paul A. Bonin and Bernadette D’Souza, as well as the Rev. Joseph Palermo, Barbara Malik, Lauren Favret, Judge Ellen Kovach, and Judge Chelsey Napoleon. From the Louisiana State Bar Association came president Shayna L. Sonnier, president-elect Pat Talley, and past president Stephen Dwyer with spouse Jennifer Van Vrancken. All congratulated Edwin R. Fleischmann Jr., recipient of the Evangeline Award, which is given annually to a longtime Association member.
Laureates and levity
Often considered the greatest writer of Southern literature, Nobel Prize in Literature laureate William Faulkner, 1897-1962, is best known for his novels and short stories, many appearing in The Times-Picayune, when he lived in the Crescent City. As a homage to him, The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society, Inc. gathered for four days of literary enlightenment and entertainment revolving around “Magnificent Obsessions of New Orleans.” On the concluding evening, “Happy Birthday, Mr. Faulkner!” unfolded in the Vieux Carré in St. Mary’s Church and the Old Ursuline Convent. The program took place in the church while drinks and music occurred in the tented area.
For the formalities, Rosemary James gave a memorial to her late husband Joseph J. DeSalvo Jr., with whom she founded the Faulkner Society; songwriter and singer Sarah Quintana rendered “Hallelujah”; Thomas Bonner talked about Faulkner’s “Magnificent Obsessions”; and gold medals were presented to winners of the William Faulkner–William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. Louisiana medalists for 2020-2021 were Andrew Cominelli, Chad Foret, and Sidne K. Gard, while the 2021-2022 names were Victoria Ryan, Jean-Marc Duplantier, Jane Kahramanidis, and Dennis Fomento. Others were duly hailed. Presenters and manuscript critics were Katherine Fausett, Sarah Gerton, Ivy Givens, Jeff Kleinman, Lauren Marino, Michael Signorelli, Shari Stauch, and Shari Thornton.
A Legend in His/Her Own Time, an annual presentation, limelighted lawyer Michael Harold and Dr. E. Quinn Peeper, for philanthropy and literary achievement (as celebrated in their gorgeous new book, “Classical Shindig”). They closed the program with a duo piano performance.
Making rounds were those from afar — Kate Bullard Adams, Julie Klein, and Lee Meehan — and near, such as Angela Bowlin and Martin Robinson, Susan and Charles Schadt, Permele and Garner Robinson, Jana Napoli, Bobby and Laura Lane McNeal, Nancy Dixon and Bill Lavender, Lee McDonogh, Ellis Anderson, Nell Carmichael, and Janet Noble. To mention a literary few, who appreciated the Faulkner-related wisteria theme in the florals by Johnny Lopez of Perfect Presentations, the Louisiana taste treats, and the Pigeon Catering “Happy Birthday” cake for Mr. Faulkner. Revelry was writ large.
