Around the Town
Distinction
The Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumni Gala of the University of New Orleans took place in The National WWII Museum, United States Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center on a Thursday evening. It was presented by Entergy & Google.
Laureled for 2023 were Sabrina D. Farmer, ’95, Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumna of the Year and Vice President of Engineering for the Site Reliability team at Google; and Avril M. Habetz, ’05, Norma Jane Sabiston Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year, who leads Northwestern Mutual’s team of financial professionals in Louisiana and Mississppi. There’s more! From UNO’s various colleges were honorees Joseph M. Dempsey, ’76, Business Administration; Kimberly S. Cook-Nelson, ’94,’97 & ’99, Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering; Dr. Frank E. Juge Jr., ’62, Sciences; Jericho Brown, ’02, Liberal Arts, Education, & Human Development; and A. Wayne Cooper, Privateer Athletics.
Cocktails assembled the alums (and others) at 6:45 p.m. before the dinner service and the pleasures of the table. To open the formalities, Rachel Weiss, executive director, UNO Alumni Association, stepped forward. Following her were Clarence “Clancy” J. DuBos III, ’76, the special guest emcee; Ricky A. Burke, ’73, ’75, alum association board president; and The University of New Orleans President Dr. Kathy E. Johnson. Along with Ricky Burke, the UNO Alumni Association board has Ronnie Slone, Annie Juttner, Serina Phoenix and Alicia Brady as officers, while William Berg, Brandan Bonds, Roxanne Craven, Raphael Deterville, Mike Jackson, Daniel Lund, Eboni Thompson-Buchanan and Jeremy Yuslum serve on the board.
In addition to the encomiums, a silent auction attracted attention with attendees receiving a link to a personal Mobile Bidding Center.
The program concluded with the Honoree “Fireside” Chat moderated by DuBos, the auction’s closure, and music by UNO Jazz Studies Performers. Of course, congratulations abounded.
Role Call
Held at the Sazerac House, the Young Leadership Council (YLC) showcased its annual Role Models Celebration, starting with a patron party and then the hour-later award presentation, which was chaired by Olivia Mertensmeyer Alexander. Patrick Hernandez is YLC’s president; Graham Williams, president elect; and Erica Sensenbrenner, secretary and general counsel. Additional executive committee officers are Blake Eckert, Josie Delaune, Krisrie Kaaa-O’Brien, Evan Nicholl, Gavin Pitre and Andrew Koehler, past president. Morgan England, Josh Bartholomew, Katherine Hammer, Katie Neeb, Drew Chapman, Margaret Martin, Nick LaCour, Ryan Estaris, Elizabeth Eumont, Taylor Jackson, Stephen T. Sewell, Liz Waller and Lauren Michel round out the board.
Now for the Role Models! Davon Barbour, Downtown Development District; Rashain Carriere-Williams, Boys Town Louisiana; Tiffany D. Delcour, New Schools for New Orleans; Kathy R. Hebert, KRH Consulting LLC; Deacon John Moore, Deacon John & the Ivories; Rachel G. Shields, Greater New Orleans, Inc.; Scott Sternberg, Sternberg, Naccari, and White; Ron Stone, Shell; Melissa A. Weber, Tulane’s Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music; and Isaac Toups, Toups Meatery.
Joel Catering fed the flock, and Harry Hardin, New Orleans Classical & Jazz, added the musical fillip.
True Blue
Miss Lea Gabrielle McGeathy was radiant as she processed forth during a highlight of the debutante party in her honor, as the sixth maid of the Young Men Illinois Club, Inc., given by her parents, Drs. Norman and Brigette McGeathy. Titled “Blue Soirée,” the formal-attire festivities occurred in Messina’s at The Terminal. Universal Printing did the handsome indigo colored invitations and Mardi Gras Productions, the décor. Stephanie Johnson Saberre rated thanks as the party planner.
Mistress of ceremonies Gina Swanson-Gray, WDSU, anchor, gave the opening remarks for the program, prior to the presentation of the club’s officers and members (and their ladies) by club president Marion Floyd, and the introduction of the honoree’s family, including sisters Madison Ava McGeathy and Megan Elizabeth McGeathy, and grandmothers Annie Doris McGeathy and Dr. Stella Pinkney Jones. Their late husbands are Norman Lee McGeathy Jr. and Harry Wade Jones. Ball captain Lawrence Robinson then acknowledged the YMI court.
Lea caught every eye in her impressive white ballgown by family friend Wanda Bryant. Tadashi Shoji designed her mother’s dress. A proclamation, toasts by Lea’s sisters, the debutante’s remarks, her keyboard performance, and, finally, her waltz with godfather Albert Thibodeaux were special moments, occurring before the court waltz and the emcee’s closing words.
Additional features, and they were numerous, were Messina’s tasty purveyance, Dricka’s Cookie Jar cookie masks, “Lea’s Blue Soirée” second-line handkerchiefs, the beautiful party favors (such as silver YMI cufflinks for the men), and the sounds of Jasmine Williams aka DJ Odd, who got (just about) everyone to the floor for line dancing. All the while, Lea expressed her gratitude and joy.
Oh, the Wonder!
The Nims Fine Art Center became transformed with “ASH in Wonderland” as the title for the annual fundraising gala and auction of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Teamed to chair the event were Anne and Andrew Angelico, Lauren and Blake Ridings and Lindsey and Cameron Himel. Fabulous Mardi Gras Productions decorations, such as giant flamingos, neon signs, light-up center bar, thematic centerpieces, and Mushroom Garden with Mad Hatter DJ, wowed the crowd, who bid on 250 super silent-auction items. Included was a luxe dinner for 12 by chef Justin Devillier and the LPG (La Petite Grocery) Team that was donated by Justin and spouse Mia and purchased by Joey and Eileen Devall. Natalie Weiser was the raffle winner of a BRG Hospitality Group Restaurant gift certificate. The top sponsors were Hancock Whitney, LVC LongueVue Capital, and Ochsner Health.
Casino games were a huge hit. So were the “Punch Wall,” black-and-white photo displays, 360 Photo Booth, and Toulouse Gourmet with its special raw and charbroiled oyster bar.
Relishing all the “Wonderland” wizardry were Head of School Micheline Dutil, board chair Graham Ralston with alumna Adele, Tim and Beth Brennan, Tracey and John Schiro, Natalie and Ryan Nagim, Michelle and Ryan Jeandron, Rae and Joe Dempsey, Michelle and Mark Montiel, Caroline and Alex Plocki, Angelle and Jonathan Guidry, Elizabeth and Peyton Bush, Hartley and Blair Crunk, Tara and Warren Buonagura, Gregg and Marsha Robertson, Victoria and Daniel Zangara, and Neely and Steven Griffith. Magic was the momentum.