B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

“This organization does significant work connecting the business

community with the citizens of Orange County,” said Dave Tappan, former

chairman and chief executive of the Fluor Corp.

Tappan and his wife, Jeanne, were entering the Newport Marriott Hotel

for a Sunday evening reception to recognize business leaders who have

supported local arts programs through their corporate philanthropy.

Continuing a 19-year tradition in Orange County, the Business Committee

for the Arts held its annual meeting and dinner recognizing 14 Orange

County companies as outstanding civic models. The group is led by

executive director Betty Moss.

“My husband ought to know about the importance of [this]” Jeanne

Tappan said. “He was a founder of the Orange County Business Committee

for the Arts.”

Joining the Tappans for this once-a-year conference of the Orange

County power-elite were representatives from many of the region’s

influential business bases. Henry Segerstrom, perhaps the most

influential advocate of business for the arts, attended the reception and

dinner with his wife, Elizabeth, who was attired in a smart, shimmering

black cocktail suit.

Segerstrom was applauded for his work as the national leader of

Business Committee for the Arts. His son, Anton Segerstrom and his wife,

Jennifer, were also in the crowd in support of the evening’s purpose.

As the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel came to silence, N. Christian

Anderson III, publisher and chief executive officer of the Orange County

Register and chairman of the Orange County Business Committee for the

Arts, took the helm as master of ceremonies for the program.

Prior to the corporate awards presentation, Anderson introduced the

guest of honor, internationally acclaimed architect Cesar Pelli, the man

hired to design the $200-million expansion of the Orange County

Performing Arts Center and South Coast Repertory.

This disarming creator of many of the world’s architectural landmarks

addressed the audience with familiarity and warmth, much like a favorite

uncle at holiday time rather than a revered artist sharing his vision

with the people. Pelli’s message was clear.

“We will build the finest concert hall in the world,” he told the

crowd of business leaders, who will participate in both the financial and

civic responsibilities of seeing the dream turn into concrete and steel,

and ultimately into music.

The architect went on to say that he considers the audience in the

concert hall a part of the experience.

“People get dressed to attend a performance. They arrive in the lobby

to greet friends, to see people they know, and they want to be a part of

what’s going on around them as they walk up stairs or to elevators taking

them to levels of the hall before taking their seats. It is all part of

the experience, the magic of creating an event,” Pelli said, adding that

he is an avid theatergoer who relishes the entire experience.

Born in Argentina, Pelli earned a diploma in architecture from the

University of Tucuman. His distinguished career has included being dean

of the Yale University School of Architecture from 1977 to 1984. Since

founding his own design firm, Cesar Pelli and Associates in 1977, some of

his projects have included The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;

the World Financial Center in Manhattan; the Pacific Design Center in Los

Angeles; and the Center Tower in Costa Mesa.

Pelli joined Anderson in applauding the Business Committee for the

Arts nominees and presenting awards to the 14 winners.

Recipients of the handsome crystal trapezoid symbolizing their

contribution to the arts were: Madeline Zuckerman Public Relations and

Marketing, Noelle Corporate Communications, Sanderson J. Ray Development,

Gateway Inc., Data Into Action, McLarand Vasquez and Partners Inc., The

Boeing Co., Edison International, Wells Fargo Bank, Latham and Watkins,

Tiffany and Co., Deloitte and Touche LLP, The First American Corp. and

the Los Angeles Times, Orange County edition.

Judges for the 2000 awards were community members E.B. Atkins, Bolton

T. Colburn, Judith O’Dea Morr, Anton Segerstrom and Elaine Weinberg. In

addition, a special award was presented to the Pacific Symphony

Orchestra. The award included a $2,500 cash grant underwritten by Ernst

and Young LLP.

John Forsyte, president of the orchestra, accepted the check, sharing

the story of an elementary school in Westminster that has been able to

significantly raise its educational standards in part due to the

participation of the orchestra’s music education outreach. Forsyte’s

point brought home the message and purpose of the committee. Applause

filled the Marriott ballroom.

Following the awards presentation, guests walked across the street to

The Ritz, Newport Beach to partake in what was probably the first holiday

dinner of the season. Charlene Prager, wife of Ritz founder Hans Prager,

greeted the arriving crush with gracious handshakes and kisses as the

Ritz staff escorted the several hundred guests to their tables.

Resplendent with holiday decor, the setting served the occasion well,

as the individual tables enabled the participants to enjoy dinner

conversation along with an exquisite meal that began with the classic

Ritz seafood martini, followed by wild mushroom cappuccino soup, New York

“striploin” and a dessert of chestnut pave served in a pool of Frangelico

Creme Anglaise. In the crowd were Peter and Marilyn Ashkin, Phil and

Linda Baker, Jim and Janie Bowling, Cliff and Donna Carper, Bob and Peggy

Goldwater Clay, Craig and Loren De Roy, John and Ruth Evans, Dell and

Norma Glover, Bill Hall, David Masone, Peter and Signe Keller, Rick and

Ann Confair Keller, Barbara Kennedy, Don and Dorothy Kennedy, Parker and

Sherry Kennedy, William and Paula Lakeman, Molly Lynch, Betty Mower and

Larry Rosenberg.

Also supporting the committee were Craig and Nancy Smith, Bill Steele,

Jack and Lynn Stranberg and Amanda Weig, with her charming mother,

Marcella Weig of Irvine Terrace.

“The arts are the catalyst to a strong community and a great

civilization. We are nothing without them,” Pelli shared.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.