B.W. COOK
A grand "gathering of friends" at Village Crean on Newport's Back Bay
raised more than $128,000 for Adult Day Services of Orange County.
Chairwoman of the May 20 event was Cindy Picquelle of Huntington
Beach, with major support coming from Hoag Memorial Hospital
Foundation in Newport Beach, Washington Mutual Mortgage Division and
local philanthropists Karen Johnson, Jan and Jack Stephenson and the
McDaniel Family Foundation.
The party at the estate of John and Donna Crean was decorated in a
"Summer in Yosemite" theme. Scenes of the great California natural
landmark surrounded diners enjoying Italian cuisine and listening to
1960s classic rock.
The event was built around the favorite elements of the life of
Chris Kaufman, 58, a participant in the programs and services of
Adult Day Center. Kaufman suffers from Alzheimer's disease, and he
presented the crowd with a chilling perspective on the affliction for
a younger man.
Joined at the event by his wife of 35 years, Marcia Kaufman, the
couple shared their plight together fighting the disease. Marcia
Kaufman said, "Chris was an accomplished athlete. He dedicated his
life to coaching swimming and water polo, teaching at Los Angeles
high schools. He was also an artist, who enjoyed oil painting ... and
he played the acoustic guitar and wrote."
Alzheimer's has taken these gifts from Chris Kaufman. He spends
his daytime hours at the Adult Day Services Center. Marcia Kaufman
works nearby. The center support allows the couple to remain living
together. Cordula Dick-Muehlke, who is associated with the center,
said, "For more than 24 years, Adult Day Services of Orange County
has assisted thousands of Orange County families like Chris and
Marcia with the heart-wrenching task of caring for a loved one."
For more information on Adult Day Services, please call (714)
593-9630.
* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.
