Last year, Sherri Abruzzese chaired the first foray of the
American Cancer Society into the Hamptons: Festive in Flip Flops. Ironically, within two months, our dear
Roger Webster, who with partner
Jason Grant served as their public relations firm, succumbed to cancer himself. This year, Jason Grant brought us to Sherri at the
Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf Club.
Susan Lucci, now hosting Investigation Discovery's "Deadly Affairs" was her special guest, and
Stacy London,
TLC's "What Not to Wear", emceed. Peat Moss and the Fertilizers supplied music, Flip Flop wines supplied spirits.
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Susan Lucci and Helmut Huber. (Photo: Annie Watt) |
"Thank God cancer has not touched me or my husband's family," said Abruzzese, still working the room 15 minutes before the event opened in jeans. "But, I always say God gave me this big mouth because I need to fight for the ones who are too weak or too sick to fight for themselves. For 20 years it was a girlfriend or a neighbor who was getting diagnosed with breast cancer, when I was in my 30s raising kids. As we've gotten older its husband's friends with prostate cancer. And then my best friend got diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Until last year I didn't even know what that was!...In the American Cancer Society we think of all cancer and we need to find a cure. This is why I do this...I'm just so hoping it's in my
lifetime."
Friends and supporters included a cross-section of the power brokers behind the cable television industry including
Joe Abruzzese, President, Sales, Discovery Networks; Bill Koeningsberg, Founder and CEO of Horizon Media, and his wife Jessica and David Levy, President of Turner Broadcasting and his wife Nikki. Also celebrating were Cheryl and Boomer Eaision,
B. Smith with her husband
Dan Gasby and last year's host
Mark Feuerstein, of hit USA Networks show "
Royal Pains" with his wife Dana Klein, and Don Distasio, ACS Eastern Division President.
The guests included Silver Sponsors, Mary and Michael Levine, Ricky Passarelli and Joseph Smith, owners of Bobby Van's restaurant and their wives Deena and Maria. Joining them were Kathy Disastio, Joni and
Christopher Fischer, who hosted a kick-off party in their East Hampton store June 30, 2012. Committee members present included Junior Chairs Melissa Abruzzese and Christy Birnbaum with her husband Jason. Marcy and Jordan Czeizler, Ilene and Henry Gayer, Sara and Mark Lewis and Gail Muszynski.
We spied Christopher Robbins of
Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs. It rained so hard at an event they catered last week, he told me, a river of mud flowed through the bottom of the tent as guests were about to arrive. "So I made a platform stage out of the tables," he said. "And called it 'sitting on
the dock of the bay.'"
Minutes after we had spoken, Sherri emerged picture perfect in a red strapless gown. We were drawn to a very significant diamond ring on her finger (as a Hamptons mosquito to our legs as dusk). "My husband gave it to me for my 30th wedding anniversary," Sherri said. "If only I had known I was getting this reward when I married him," she laughed. "I told him I'm good for another 30 years!"
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Jay and Patty Baker, Sherri and Joe Abruzzese, Shelly and Ralph Styer. (Photo: Annie Watt) |
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