Waiters Turn Tables at Fun Fund-Raiser

SAN DIEGO — Waiting tables may or may not be the world’s second-oldest profession, but it was in any case a reasonably reputable line of work until Tuesday.

That’s a day that will live in infamy, thanks to the well-intentioned efforts of 26 bumbling amateurs who raised havoc on the Westgate Hotel’s third-floor terrace while raising a bundle of bucks for the local chapter of the American Diabetes Assn.

The ADA’s second annual Celebrity Waiters Luncheon brought about 450 adventurous souls out into the bright sunlight for an above-average meal, dished up by a bunch of sociable servers whose combined food-service experience, if truth be told, might qualify any one of them for employment as dishwasher at a grade school cafeteria. Still, their hearts were in the right place, and their occasionally excessive antics raised in excess of $10,000 for ADA programs.

The basic intent of the day was to promote silliness in its highest forms, and there certainly is a need for silliness on the fund-raising circuit; the more, in fact, the better. Guests knew in advance that this would not be the typical creamed chicken occasion, and the waiters--whose ranks included cultural, political, sports and business notables--had explicit instructions to be on their most jovially worst behavior.

The audience of downtown business folk was treated to the spectacle of watching people like San Diego Charger Eric Sievers, San Diego County Chief Administrative Officer Norman Hickey and Gaslamp Quarter Theatre director Kit Goldman simultaneously bear trays of iced tea and beleaguered “coffee, tea or me?” expressions. The pleasure was accompanied by a price, though. One had to tip heavily for the nifty joy of having top cop Bill Kolender pour one’s white wine, or to retrieve silverware swiped by public relations man Sonny Sturn.

Anyone who ever watched Moe, Larry and Curly offer canapes would have rejoiced at seeing County Supervisor Brian Bilbray pour wine from the right and left(!), or businessman Al Assad, in blue suit and burnoose, cavort in the company of belly dancers “borrowed” from the Athens Market. But the servers themselves may have had the most fun.

The group gathered for instructions in a private room before the luncheon began, and those who suffered from butterflies were invited to calm themselves with a drop or two of bubbly. Most, but not all, admitted to having no prior experience for the job, but that mattered not at all. Event co-chair Jim Geschke said that the celebrity waiters were exhorted to invent “original and ingenious” ways of separating guests from the contents of their wallets. Thus Judge William L. Todd Jr., normally an exemplar of judicial perspicacity, donned periwig, Bermuda shorts and a placard that read “Wedding Waiter;” his primary shtick was the sale of certificates that promised a free wedding ceremony, but disclaimed responsibility for the aftermath. (Todd ultimately proved to be the day’s third-highest earner, with a take of $899.)

Public relations honcho Jack Berkman, who admitted to having worked about every job except waiting, said that he worried about “offending those people with no taste.” Advertising man Gary Beals had no such qualms, however. “I’m going out there with guts and my pepper mill to earn money,” he said, and he upped his take by offering to anoint his guests with sun block at $10 a shot.

The guests survived the cheerful chaos, thanks partly to the hotel staff, which served the food (celebrities were limited to purveying wine and nonsense), and also to radio’s Rich Brothers, who provided a running narrative of the scene. By the end of the meal, Mercy Hospital Diabetes Unit chief Dr. Jeff Sandler took top honors (and the coveted head waiter’s trophy) by pulling in $1,330; former head waiter Mac Jagers earned $1,014, of which $100 came from singing “Old McDonald Had a Farm,” complete with choruses honoring four different barnyard animals. The “ee-yi-ee-yi-oh’s” echoed across downtown.

Event chairman Kim Stead headed a planning committee that included ADA executive director Martin Davis, board President Dr. Douglas Muchmore, Linda Creel, Scott Barnett, Jan Carley, Dale Hansen, John Rush, Connie Leigh, John Colwell, Donna Martin and Bonnie Rush.

It may have been the full moon (or possibly astrological good vibes), but the week’s unusually silly mood continued with the 13th annual 200 For Youth, a no-holds-barred benefit for the La Jolla YMCA given Thursday at the Catamaran Hotel.

This fund-raiser’s name used to be quite specific, in that an attendance of 200 was invited to ante up $200 each to participate in a stag dinner that was at least a touch friskier in its tone than events to which wives are invited. Nowadays, a ticket costs $250, but attendance still hovers at the 200 mark (Thursday’s party sold out fast), and the net proceeds were in excess of $30,000. The funds will help with the remodeling of Firehouse 13 Center in downtown La Jolla, a unique recreation facility geared to serve both teens and seniors.

This year’s guys’ night out started with a cocktail cruise on Mission Bay aboard the William D. Evans, followed by dinner, entertainment, an auction and an impressive prize raffle. Unlike most raffles, this one specifically announced and eliminated losers (there was one handsome prize for every guest), so that they could head downstairs to the bar for further merrymaking.

The crowd included quite a number of men whose wives periodically drag them to balls and other amusements, but who wouldn’t miss 200 For Youth for anything and have in fact attended all 13 events. Among them was attorney Bud Murfey, who summed it up for the group by saying, “It’s the best event for the leaders in San Diego who really make things happen. It’s a great bunch of guys who work hard but like to let their hair down once in a while.” Masters of ceremonies and former San Diego Chargers Rolf Benirschke and Louie Kelcher (a sartorial juxtaposition of Ralph Lauren and Levi Strauss) introduced stand-up comics Mark Brazill and John Paydon, who spent part of their routines dodging flying ice cubes. The general consensus seemed to be that the show should proceed with auctioneer Bill Black (reprising an oft-played role), who hammered down a bid of $1,300 for a yellow Labrador puppy, and with La Jolla Y President Gus Colachis, who conducted the raffle that handed out trips, stereo equipment and other goods.

Chairman Bob Morris took the podium briefly to commend the crowd for the event’s success, which has generated more than $350,000 in its 13 years. “This is a wonderful tribute to the men of our community,” said Morris. San Diego County YMCA President Richard Collato expressed a similar thought when he remarked, “There’s a kindred spirit here of businessmen and executives who want to give back to the community. This is a fun way for them to share their good fortune and do a lot of good.”

The dinner, which began with elaborate hors d’oeuvres and continued with New York steaks and a citrus Charlotte, was underwritten by the hotel-owning Evans family, represented at the dinner by David Cherashore.

Others in the crowd were Andy Nelson, Dick Chapel, Tom Henry, Hal Andersen, Kraig Kristofferson, Ed Danenhauer, Randy Luce, Bob Papera, Dutch Harmeling, Roy Lessard, John Seiber, Charlie Black, John Michaelson, Norm Dinnsen, Dick Freeman, Bob Teaff, Dave Johnson and Bo Havlik.

Earlier the same evening, an entirely different sort of spectacle unfolded at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park, where a crowd of 400 assembled for the unveiling of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection.

The mood at this Cinco de Mayo celebration was mariachi to the max, with most guests turned out in brilliant fiesta colors that echoed the bright primary shades against which the extraordinary collection is displayed. The party planners chose Chula Vista’s redoubtable La Fonda Roberto’s as the caterer, and some guests did a fair approximation of the hat dance after dipping tortilla chips into a notably zingy green salsa. The fare continued with cactus salad and elaborate meat and seafood dishes.

The event served a double purpose, since it also noted the kick-off of the museum’s ambitious renovation program. Board President Barbara Malone, who snipped the ceremonial ribbon that guarded the way to the exhibit, said “This is just the first step of renovating the whole museum,” in reference to the El Paso Natural Gas Company, which is sponsoring the tour of the Rockefeller collection and also paid for the remodeling of the gallery it occupies.

Museum director Doug Sharon expressed a similarly forward-looking point of view. “We’re celebrating tonight, because this really kicks off our whole renovation program,” he said. “We couldn’t think of a better way of inaugurating it that by focusing on Mexico, because Mexico always has been and will continue to be a major focal point of our programs. We will be--and think all San Diego should be--deeply involved in cultural exchanges with Mexico.”

To underscore this point, Hermilo Lopez-Bassols, Mexican consul in San Diego, headed a guest list that included County Supervisor Leon Williams; El Paso Natural Gas representatives Richard Morris and Robert Harbor; Dolly Maw; Liz Smith; Karen and Will Speidel; Ariadne and Steve Wall; Doris and Jack Starkey; Charmaine and Maury Kaplan; Nancy and Miles Harvey; Florence McCausland; Nancy and William Norgren, and Ann and Jerome Ryan.