SEEN (Continued from page 16) Judy and Brian Robertson at his 75th birthday party
Eddie and Bobbie Rosenblatt flank major donor Leslie Ridley-Tree at the beam raising for the Cancer Center
with Dennis Power as vice chair; Paul Johnson is treasurer and secretary is Randy Weiss. As PR gal Julia McHugh told me, “There were about 330 people attending, but we had a record number of sponsors which means more dollars for the animals.” It’s still the wildest place in town, and it’s doable in a couple of hours. But you’ll want to stay longer, I’m sure.
Cancer Center
Val Montgomery, Dr. Kirt Ransohoff, and Maryan Schall for the Cancer Center
Committee member Julie Nadel and director of medical oncologist Dr. Fred Kass
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If you don’t have a place reserved in the cemetery, how about your signature on the final steel beam that was raised atop the new three-story building for the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara? As the program stated, “The topping-off ceremony is a long-standing tradition in construction that occurs when the final piece of steel is placed on a building’s frame. Its ancient origins are traced back to the Vikings.” It is to placate the spirits, who might have been disturbed by the work. Two hundred of us signed our names. My husband, Don, has lost two wives to cancer so he signed both their names by his own. Then we watched as two construction guys rode the beam up with an American flag flying and an evergreen tree planted in a bucket and put the beam in place. It was stirring to say the least, and according to Dr. Kurt N. Ransohoff, CEO and chief medical officer of Sansum Clinic, and president of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara Rick Scott, it announced the public phase of the campaign for our new Cancer Center with a goal of $38 million – and $33 million already raised. Honorary campaign chair was Leslie Ridley-Tree, who gave $10.7 million and will have the new facility named the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, located one block from Cottage Hospital. As Leslie said, “Years ago, I accompanied my husband, Paul, to his chemotherapy appointments at the original Cancer Center. To imagine that we can honor his memory with the new Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, which represents hope and a new chance at life, is like a dream. I’m just delighted to support this project.”
• The Voice of the Village •
The rest of Leslie’s campaign cabinet members are Ed and Sue Birch, Dan Gainey, Peter MacDougall, and Maryan Schall. They like to say, “We are building the Cancer Center of tomorrow, today.” Some of those donating $1 million and above are Jim and Wendy Drasdo, Hugh and Hunter Foster family, Judy and Jeff Henley, Morrie and Irma Jurkowitz, Bill and Nancy Kimsey, Lillian Lovelace, Dr. Nancy O’Reilly and daughters Lauren, Leigh, and Ragan, Maryan Schall, Elaine Stepanek Foundation, Trust and Estate, the Wolf Family Foundation, Sansum Clinic, Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, and Cottage Health. It always amazes me how the chairs and staff change a construction site into a cocktails and canapés (especially the fresh-cooked shrimp) party with valet parking, tables, chairs, banners, and a platform. There was also a television giving a preview of what the center will look like. They think of everything. The cancer team cared for 11,779 patients at 69,864 visits in 2015. If you’d like to contribute to the campaign, please contact Rob Dunton at (805) 898-3620, Lori Willis at (805) 898-2187, or Dru Hartley at (805) 6817726
Birthday Bash at 75
Some of you travelers may recognize the names Brian and Judy Robertson because of the International Travel service they own. I know them on a more personal level, since they introduced me to my husband. After Don cancelled his trip around the world because I wouldn’t go, Brian ordered, “No more playing cupid. It’s too expensive.” Brian and Judy gathered 30 friends to their house on Faria Beach for a glamorous sit-down lunch on the deck to celebrate Brian’s 75th birthday. The table was stunning in colors of Provence, blue and yellow, and the tri-tip delicious. Not to mention the bloody Marys. Did we know we were making memories during those 40 years of friendship? I think so. A toast to you, Brian. •MJ 8 – 15 September 2016