Rocky Mountain High

Pink flamingos and green monkeys add spice to lively M.D. Anderson fundraiser in Aspen

Since its inception 16 years ago, M.D. Anderson's "Making Cancer History" seminar in Aspen has been one of the intellectual highlights of the season that is chockablock with gray matter confabs. Likewise, the accompanying party hosted each year by Barbara and Gerald Hines is one of the must-attend benefits of the summer.

The well-heeled crowd, most from Houston, soaked up the cool mountain air on the banks of the Roaring Fork River, partied in a whimsically decorated tent and raised $50,000 for the cancer center.

On Monday, 270 participants packed to near capacity the Paepcke Auditorium at the Aspen Institute where for two hours M.D. Anderson president Dr. Ron DePinho led a distinguished group of doctors and faculty in a discussion on the latest breakthroughs in the Moon Shots program. He was joined by M.D. Anderson chair of immunology James Allison, Melanoma and Skin Center director Dr. Jeff Gershenwald, chair of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine Dr. Karen Lu and chair of Genomic Medicine Dr. Lynda Chin.

That evening, the Hineses opened the tree-shrouded grounds of their Aspen vacation home to 200 friends and supporters of M.D. Anderson. The well-heeled crowd, most from Houston, soaked up the cool mountain air on the banks of the Roaring Fork River, partied in a whimsically decorated tent and raised $50,000 for the cancer center. As is Hines tradition for this party, the tent is typically dressed in a colorful theme, this year the nod was to the tropics with pink topiary flamingos at the entry and green topiary monkeys swinging from the tent rafters.

In recent years, Barbara Hines, a talented artist, has created a special work to be auctioned at the M.D. Anderson event. On Monday, DePinho and Chin were high bidders on 60 x 54-inch painting "Aspen Trees on Independence Pass." The winning bid of $9,000 added to the kitty earmarked for the Moon Shots program.

Savoring the beauty of this sunset party were Leslie and Jack Blanton Jr., Denise Monteleone, Judy Allen, Estela and David Cockrell, Jackie and Connelly McGreevy, Laura and Andrew McCullough, George Lancaster, Ellie and Michael Francisco, Mary and Will Williams, Susan Nutt and Alex Dell.

Randall Bone, from left, Dr. Ron DePinho, Dr. Lynda Chin and Estela and David Cockrell.

Photo by © MarySue Bonetti

Randall Bone, from left, Dr. Ron DePinho, Dr. Lynda Chin and Estela and David Cockrell.

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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.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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