“The Love Boat” sailed into Orange County recently as the Age Well Senior Services celebrated its 10th anniversary Captain’s Ball. Actually, it wasn’t the real “Love Boat,” but rather an event theme recaptured from the first ball a decade ago. Organizers such as gala Chairs Ed Schrum, Debra Alves and Jacqueline Carlson billed the party “Return of the Love Boat,” ultimately raising $125,000 in support of O.C. senior services. Age Well, formerly known as South County Senior Services, provides Adult Day Care, Meals on Wheels, Senior Transportation, and Health and Wellness Counseling to local seniors.
The evening unfolded at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Monarch Beach, emceed by the philanthropic Ed Arnold and supported by distinguished guests, including Marilyn Ditty, Steve Moyer, Bart Asner, Ruth May, Marion Levine, Bob Stegner, Jean Reinhardt, Gemma Heffernan and a large contingent of dedicated staff from Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.
The Newport-Mesa crowd joined guests from around Southern California for a marvelous concert tribute to the late Stan Kenton, a former celebrity citizen of the California Riviera. Chapman University hosted the Stan Kenton Alumni Band, led by Mike Vax and under the program supervision of O.C. musical legend William Hall, long-standing Chapman dean in charge of the performing arts. Kenton’s widow, the beautiful Jo Ann Kenton of Newport Beach, welcomed the enthusiastic gathering. It included a large attendance of Chapman students who had the chance to spend a “master class” working with the band as well as opening the concert in Chapman’s Memorial Hall.
