Dazzling Jewels for CAMH Patrons

25th anniversary of CAMH's Another Great Night is a dazzling affair with lots of bling

Ensuring that the 25th anniversary of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's Another Great Night in November was indeed a dazzling affair, Zadok Jewelers provided beaucoup bling. Sparkling gifts from Sutra Jewels were presented to the chairs, Katharine B. Barthelme, Kate Criner Bellin and Annie Criner Eifler; the honoree, Susie Criner; and the party hostess Jereann Chaney.

An avid collector of modern art, Chaney opened the doors of her vibrant museum-like home in Memorial for the well-heeled throng of 260 women. The traditional, highly competitive trivia/scavenger contest took place throughout the home and tested guests’ knowledge of contemporary art, CAMH history, Zadok’s history, gemology and sports.

After scurrying through the vast home, guests settled down in a party tent, decorated with memories from past years by Bergner & Johnson's Rebekah Johnson. A Fare Extraordinaire provided the ladylike dinner. By night's end, the evening in honor of the memory of Marion Barthelme Fort, had raised more than $253,000 for CAM.

Tablemates winning the triva/scavanger contest were Henrietta Alexander, Cristiana Anderson, Gisela Cherches, Kerry Inman, Julie Kinzelman, Betty Newton, Judy Nyquist, Lea Weingarten, Ann Wilde and Geraldina Wise. The lucky ladies went home with a Sutra pendant, adorned with sparkling diamonds, sapphires, blue topaz, smoky quartz, ruby slices, and agate designed in honor of the event's 25th anniversary — compliments of Zadok.

Among the stylish ladies were the three Zadok daughters-in-law — Michelle, Amy and Lisa — along with CAMH senior curator Valerie Cassell Oliver, Aliyya Stude, Sissy Kempner, Hilda Curran, Meredith Riddle Chastang, Kelli Blanton, Stephanie Cockrell, Liz Anders, Erica Levit and Marita Fairbanks.

CAMH director Bill Arning made a brief cameo appearance as this was, after all, girls' night out.

Brittany Rose, Liz Glanville, Patricia Smith.

©JennDuncan

Brittany Rose, Liz Glanville, Patricia Smith.

jewelry fundraisers dinner

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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