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250th Anniversary: 1753-2003

250th Anniversary Gala Wrap Up
by Risa Gilpin for the July/August 2003Universal Penman

The Athenaeum's 250th Anniversary Gala took place on Sunday, April 27, 2003 and was a rousing success. Event Chairs Marsy and Josef Mittlemann were thrilled at the excellent turnout of over 400 attendees, indicating the wonderful level of support and love that the community has for this historic and vibrant institution.

Guest speakers included Providence Mayor David Cicilline, who offered congratulations in the form of a City Proclamation and a champagne toast; Susan Kertzer, President of the Board; Jonathan Bengtson, Executive Director; Oskar Eustis, who was in "virtual" attendance in a humorous video; Roger Mandle, President of RISD; Ruth Simmons, President of Brown; Robert and Sara Reichley who presented the second annual Stephen Hopkins Philanthropic Award to honorees Vartan and Clare Gregorian; and Barnaby Evans of Waterfire Providence.

Chef Walter Potenza created the delicious meal, with service by his staff and volunteer staff from the Feinstein Center of Johnson & Wales University. The décor was professionally handled this year by Kelli O'Brien and her "Main Event" enterprise. Barnaby Evans provided lighting and sound creations. Rit Schartner of Schartner Farms and Clarke Flowers provided spring bouquets for each table. Greg Matta of Campus Fine Wine donated champagne. The two cakes (one a 3-dimensional replica of Strickland's Athenaeum and the other a replica of our seal) were created by RISD pastry chef Steven Dansereau. Toots Zynsky created and donated a stunning piece of art glass as a "door prize." Charlie Otto and Carol Grant were the lucky recipients. Contributions also came from Falvey Linen Supply; Richard Alan Specialty Coffees; John Accardi & Sons; Martingnetti Companies of Rhode Island; and Providence Beverage. Thanks to Mikaela Gilpin for photographing the event and to John Meyers for creating a video of the evening. We encourage all of our members to patronize the businesses that participated in supporting this successful fundraising event.

Our net result exceeded our $30,000 goal by more than $8,000. What's more, the genuine feeling of appreciation for this venerable library went far to boost our morale in these tough economic times.

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We have many to thank:

Honorary Co-Chairs:
David Cicilline, Mayor of Providence
Donald L. Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island

Special Events Committee
Marsy and Josef Mittlemann, Chairs

Susan Heuck Allen, Jonathan Bengtson, Judy Blake, Arria Bilodeau, Kathleen Bower, Carol Cook, Len DiPrete, Laurie Eustis, Risa Gilpin, Lyn Johnson, Susan Kertzer; Jane Lancaster, Evelyn Lincoln; Bianca Maiello; A. Ewa Metcalf; Marge Montgomery; Janice Petri, Sandra Schucht, Lindsay Shaw, Joan Blair Skeffington, Marcy Snapp, Joan Sorensen, Frances Trafton, Martha Van Zuiden, Nancy Whitcomb, and Maryanne Ziegler

Gala sponsors
Marie J. Langlois, Marsy and Josef Mittlemann, Ralph and Judy Beckman, Christie's, Edwards and Angell, Susan and David Kertzer, Meridien Printing, Howard Richmond, Judy Vilmain, Arria and Harrison Bilodeau, Bank R.I., Brown Medical School, Brown Public Affairs, Coleman Realtors, B.B. Freeman Davis, Hope Freeman Hudner and Michael Hudner; Steven and Nancy Lerner; Frederick and Mary Ann Lippitt, Mr. And Mrs. Frank Mauran, Janice and David Petri, Craig and Sarah Richardson, John and Barbara Roney, Frances and Peter Trafton, Mr. And Mrs. William Viall II, Virginia and Thomas Adams, Brassworks, Brown, Lisle/Cummings, Inc., Capital Properties, Inc., Coleman Realtors, Polly Eddy, Emerson Investments, Alan Hassenfeld of The Hassenfeld Foundation, Hogan and Stone, Johnson and Wales, Parker, Thompson and Brouilette, Residential Properties, Pilar and Stephen Robert, Sansiveri, Kimball, and McNamee; and contributors Deborah Block and Bill Harley, Elizabeth and Gene Carpenter, Mary Fennell and Dennis Hogan, Dione and William Kenyon, Nancy W. Mattis, Robert A. Robinson, Cyndie and Jonathan Seely, Cindy W. and Lawrence A. Sipkin, William Spicer, and Jimmy and Harriet Wrenn.

The 250th anniversary series, co-sponsored by the Rhode Island Council on the Humanities (RICH) and the Athenaeum Lumieres, focused on the library as a place for educational and cultural discovery for the past two and a half centuries. Spring programs on home landscapes, state history, architecture, women's writers, poetry and the history of libraries in Rhode Island gave participants an opportunity to discover the characters and events that shaped our local history and the world at large.