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On the town

Hawaiian shirts pay honor to Jack Painter

By MARY JANE PARK
Published April 6, 2005

Wish Upon a Starfish, the Saturday benefit for Academy Prep Center's Joan Fortune campus in St. Petersburg, was in all ways a tribute to the late Jack Painter, a founding trustee of the school who died unexpectedly last year.

For years, he headed Benito Advertising/Fahlgren Martin. After he retired in 1992, he also retired his suits and ties, adopting Hawaiian shirts as his sartorial trademark.

Dozens of his friends and fans who attended the gala at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort in St. Pete Beach wore Hawaiian shirts, and Jody Hall won the costume contest.

Still, you had to give Eckerd College president Don Eastman credit for his adaptation of the look: A Hawaiian shirt worn under a jacket and over a more formal shirt and his customary bow tie. He and his wife, Chris, attended a wedding earlier in the day, he said. For his efforts, judges voted Eastman the contest's big loser, but it was all in fun.

A huge tent set up on the beach sheltered guests from the wind, and the festive crowd included head of school Brenda Thompson, principal Jesse Williams, Donna Painter, Jeff Fortune, Bud and Fran Risser, Ben Fisher, Drs. Nancy and Kenneth Bryant, Dr. Andy McCloud, Thora Day, Tim Bogott, Van and Jane Sayler, Tom Grayson, Bo and Betsy Godbold, Connie Kone, Steve and Sonia Raymund, Dr. Paul and Donna McRae, George and Linda Rahdert, Dr. Bill LaTorre, Louise Weaver, Tom Stovall, Tom Sansone and Cathy Unruh, Bill and Hazel Hough, Langston Holland, Troy and Judy Holland, Ed and Marlene Camejo, Evelyn Craft, Dr. Jim and Sunny Endicott, Thelma McCloud, Dr. Lawrence Merritt, Patrick Meehan and Cindy Samaha, Chris Sabo an d Michele Vogel.

The event committee included Anje Bogott, Carol Fisher, Darlene Grayson, Carol Holland, Lynda Jollay, Wendy LaTorre, Carole Merritt, Beth Morean, Fran Nohren and Laura Sansone.

The school says farewell this week to John Erik Savitsky, who has been vice president of development for the Academy Prep Foundation. He's going into business with his brother, raising private money for real estate projects in Tampa.

Suncoasters packed the Coliseum on Friday for the Coronation Ball, where St. Petersburg College president Carl Kuttler was named Mr. Sun and Allyson Tolbert was crowned 2005 Sungoddess. The black-tie gala launches the Festival of States.

Kuttler succeeds Dave Fischer; Alicia Billington is the 2004 Sungoddess.

Along with Tolbert, the Sungoddess Court comprised Sarah Bussey Bennett, Brittney Lynn Brock, Christina Casadonte, Julie Cunningham, Sarah Denison, Ashlee Dreyer, Kristin Lynch Eckert, Jacqueline Pace, Ashley Nicole Patterson, Amelia Carol Rosseter, Chelsea Silverstein and twin s Ashlyn and Jaclyn Wier.

Event co-chairs Cory Adler-Leidersdorff and Margo Fischer enlisted Vickii Block's decorating help and hired Delectables of Palm Harbor as the caterer. The Charlie Raymond Orchestra played everything from Big Band favorites to disco tunes.

Additional committee members were Suncoasters president Joel Momberg, Mary Wyatt Allen, Fay Baynard, Susan Blackburn, Mickie Breen, Cris Coffin, Nancy Friar, Bill Heller, Paula Popovich, Daren Scott, Karen White and Amy Williams.

St. Petersburg High School senior Ashley Strickland was named Junior Sungoddess last week in ceremonies at the Palladium Theater. Her parents are Tom and Bonnie Strickland.

Safiya Miller, daughter of Winston and Joan Miller, and also a senior at St. Petersburg High, was first runnerup; Stacey Grusden, daughter of Richard and Toni Grusden, and a senior at Seminole High, was second runnerup.

Additional members of the court are Angela Banaszak, East Lake High; Mandi Barringer, Largo High; Jessie Bowman, Northeast High; Lauren Virginia Christ, Courtney Connell, Shannon Leigh Love, Kathleen Rouisse an d Stacey Marie Schulz, St. Petersburg High; Amber Duncan, Dixie Hollins High; Catherine Gaylor and Jillia Harder, Osceola High; Kristen Hill, Dunedin High; Jennifer Marie Langheier, Admiral Farragut Academy; Rachael Russell and Kimberly Stephenson, Canterbury School of Florida; Sarah Rust, Clearwater High; and Ashley Jo Vance, Tarpon Springs High.

Sponsors were AmSouth Bank, the city of St. Petersburg and the Suncoasters.

Thursday

ART OF COLLECTING: Arts Center benefit features tour of personal art collection; panel of experts discussing various aspects of acquiring art. 6:30 p.m. Private home. $75. Reservations required. 822-7872.

A BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY: Benefit for Florida Craftsmen features food, entertainment, auction of handmade sweaters, other wearable art. Creative Bohemian attire. 6-10 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $40. 821-7391; www.floridacraftsmen.net

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM GUILD EVENING: Music, food, beverages, private show and admission to "Diana: A Celebration.'' 6-9 p.m. 100 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $40. 526-1946.

GRAND SLAM GALA: Benefits Rays of Hope Foundation. 2005 Tampa Bay Devil Rays participate in all festivities, including VIP, grand receptions, food, entertainment, silent and live auctions. 6:30 p.m. Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. $175. 825-3306.

LUNCHEON, FASHION SHOW, CARD PARTY: Women's Chamber of Commerce of St. Petersburg event. 11 a.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $40. 896-5097.

AN EVENING IN TUSCANY: Designer Showhouse gal a opens Florida Orchestra Guild's annual fundraiser. House tour, buffet dinner, dancing. 6:30 p.m. 1219 Park Street N, St. Petersburg. $70. 864-4848; 392-0509.

GREAT CHEFS OF TAMPA BAY: Family Resources benefit features hors d'oeuvres prepared by community leaders, area chefs, art show and sale of works by area artists, Youth Arts Corps. 6-10 p.m. Private home. $125. 521-5211.

A NIGHT WITH THE SWEET POTATO QUEEN: Benefit for St. Petersburg Free Clinic features humorist Jill Conner Browne. 7:30 p.m. Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $35, $50, $100. 894-7543.

Mary Jane Park can be reached at 727 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

[Last modified April 6, 2005, 01:07:18]