Text by Stephanie Hackett
Photos by Philip Groshong

Cincinnati Associates Tribute Dinner

The Rev. James E. Hoff, chancellor of Xavier University, congratulates honoree Joseph A. Pichler and Pichler's wife, Susan.

The 21st annual Cincinnati Associates Tribute Dinner to benefit Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Research was last weekend in the ballroom of downtown's Hyatt Hotel.

This year's honoree: Joseph A. Pichler, chairman of the board and former CEO of the Kroger Co.

Some 350 guests donated $200 each to attend the tribute. Dr. David Ellenson, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Research, presented the salute to Pichler for the executive's exemplary model of civic and philanthropic leadership. Co-chairs of the tribute dinner were James G. Heldman and Suzanne Teller. Corporate council co-chairs were William R. Burleigh and Thomas G. Cody. This year's benefit raised about $800,000.

Cincinnati May Festival Friends

Air France Cincinnati Station Manager Ron Auge enjoys the evening's May Festival festivities with Air France catering specialist Michel Dupuy and his wife, Donna Dupuy.

So it was only a half moon, and it was over Cincinnati rather than Miami Beach, but there still was a feeling of balmy breezes when the Cincinnati May Festival Friends group welcomed 340 guests - at $135 each - to "Moon Over Miami - Palm Beach to South Beach."

As cool cabana music of the Rich Uncle Skeleton band drifted across the ballroom of historic Music Hall last weekend, guests in their finest tropical resort wear enjoyed cocktails and a silent auction.

For dining pleasure, Chef Jimmy Gherardi created his version of those infamous sliders. His take? A marvelous tamarind barbecue beef filet.

The bidding was pretty competitive at both silent and live auctions. Auctioneer C. Wesley Cowan kept the live bidding, well, lively, as Ed Rigaud expressed his concern for wife Carole's determination to be the top bidder on a one-week stay on North Captiva Island.

Of even greater concern was who would claim the Air France tickets to Paris to take in the Paris National Opera, along with May Festival Music Director James Conlon.

This prize-winning beach party generated $99,000 for the May Festival, the oldest continuous choral festival in the Western Hemisphere.

Saints & Sinners Ball

More than a few restless souls walked the night on All Hallow's Eve at the Cincinnati Men's Chorus' annual Saints & Sinners Ball.

NEW SEEN WRITER

Stephanie Creech Hackett, a veteran of the Greater Cincinnati scene, has joined the Enquirer's Seen to bring readers the best of the Tristate's benefits and bashes each Sunday. A resident of East Walnut Hills, Hackett is a freelance writer and communications specialist. E-mail news for Seen to shackett@cinci.rr.com.

It was, at times, difficult to tell saints from sinners at the event at Newport's One Riverboat Row. The crowd included more than a few fallen angels dressed, of course, in black leather, as well as Julius Caesar flanked by several Roman centurions and Friar Tuck, who was seen chatting up the Devil.

Responsible for this ghoulish gathering were Men's Chorus vice president of fund-raising David Martin, looking ever so hot in his leather chaps; vice president of marketing Tom Vaughn, who made quite the cuddly Raggedy Ann and social chair Brady Powers, as Caesar.

Guests paying $35 each enjoyed cocktails and hors d'ouvres by Benson Catering, as well as dancing with the brilliant Cincinnati skyline in the background. A silent auction offered fine wines, music and gift packages.

This smashing evening of tricks and treats earned $4,000 for the Cincinnati Men's Chorus.