Night of Hearts

Texas Heart Institute shines spotlight on medical superstars and military legends

Reviving its prestigious Denton A. Cooley Leadership Award dinner, the Texas Heart Institute enjoyed the prowess of medical big guns and military might to deliver proceeds of more than $700,000. The evening honored retired four-star admiral William McRaven, who now serves as University of Texas System chancellor.

The "Leading With the Heart" evening filled the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom with a respected coterie of cardiologists and surgeons including Dr. Denton Cooley and Texas Heart Institute president Dr. James T. Willerson. The last time there was such a prestigious gathering was THI's 50th anniversary gala in 2012.

McRaven began his remarks with a tribute to Willerson. "I can tell you he is a man of tremendous energy. He really does seem to be everywhere . . . He is a man of compassion and I tell you in this age of technology and big pharma, we sometimes forget that a doctor's greatest skill lies in his ability to provide comfort to his patient. And I know of few men that do that as well as Jim Willerson."

In praise of Cooley, McRaven said, "I am honored to be mentioned in the same breath with Denton Cooley."

The benefit was chaired by Janiece Longoria, chair of the Port of Houston Authority, and Steve Lasher, GulfStar Group managing director and co-founder. UT System vice chancellor Randa Safady served as emcee. She and others brought home the point that heart disease is "the preeminent killer of men, women and children."

The impressive medical contingent included Dr. O.H. "Bud" Frazier, Drs. Leslie and Peter Kaldis, Dr. Charles Fraser, Dr. David Ott, Dr. John Craddock, Dr. Daryl Dichoso, and Dr. Robert Robbins, Texas Medical Center president and CEO.

Among those supporting THI were Toni and T. Boone Pickens, Margaret Alkek Williams, Louise Cooley, Alfred Glassell III, Rose Cullen, Lynn Wyatt, Barbara and Charles Hurwitz, Shirley and Jim Dannenbaum, Beth Robertson, Cathy and Joe Cleary, Donna and Tony Vallone, and Arlene and Marshall Hoffman.

Dr. Pete Kaldis, Dr. Leslie Kaldis.

Photo by Chris Kuhlman

Dr. Pete Kaldis, Dr. Leslie Kaldis.

fundraisers awards galas

RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

---

This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

obituary wally funk celebrities deaths