“A Passage to India” Transports Guests for Newport Hospital

Patti Mascali, Tony Cavanagh, Debbie Velasco

& Bob Chase

The Raj, the Taj Mahal, the Ganges, the jewels. The maharajas and maharanis were there in beautiful traditional garb, and the mystery and exoticism of India were in the air, as the tent behind Marble House became colonial India for a night to benefit the Newport Hospital.

Women donned saris, men appeared in Nehru jackets and turbans, and the tent was bathed in vivid red, yellow, and green light, highlighting the Indian-inspired food and hors d’oeuvres.

The Indian-themed evening featured a live auction by Paul Zekos and music and dancing to the music of the redoubtable Bob Hardwick orchestra. Honorary co-chairs Sharon Baron Wood Prince and William N. Wood Prince moved among the guests, greeting Jae and John French, Terry and Rick Grosvenor, and Elizabeth Brooks. Providence Mayor David Cicilline was there, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse arrived just before dinner, speaking with Toby Field. Committee co-chairs include Cynthia Gibson, Nannette Herrick (who worried over the decorations), Betty Lou Sheerin and Robin Grace Warren. Valerie McDonough served as junior chair. Jay Schochet looked dapper, Kathy Irving was exotic in pink, and Kim Herrlinger and son David spoke with chairman Gibson. Gus Cordeiro, of Newport Hospital, beamed, and Phyllis and Tom Kelly circulated.

Terry & Rick Grosvenor model

Indian style for Newport Seen

A highlight of a matching gifts auction was a bid of $60,000, given by Bernard and Doris Nemtzow in honor of their 60th wedding anniversary.

Newport Hospital’s summer gala, was crowded and enjoyable, as the hospital raised funds for a major expansion of the facility's interventional radiology program. Interventional radiologists use image-guided technology to treat patients with cardiac disease, cancer and other illnesses through non-surgical, minimally invasive procedures.

The evening's sponsors included Newport Hospital Emergency Physicians, Newport Hospital Medical Staff, BankNewport, Newport Fed, University Surgical Associates, L.G.L.N. Cardiology Consultants, Inc., Rhode Island Medical Imaging, Purvis Systems, Gilbane Building Company, and AMICA, all supporters of health care.