toasting mda

Houstonians wine, dine, and pour it on for MD Anderson Cancer Center

The T.J. Martell Best Cellars dinner at Hotel ZaZa isn't just a celebration of Houston’s culinary diversity and innovation. It's a feel-good fundraiser for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and cancer research. The sold-out event brings together the best in food, wine, and live entertainment. For oenophiles, it’s one of the dreamiest nights of the year.

A powerhouse team, chairman Franelle Rogers along with honorary chairmen Carolyn Faulk, Jeanie and Jim Janke, and Dean Putterman bring together wine collectors who tap into their philanthropic nature, serving wines from their own elite cellars for the event.

More than $225,000 was raised at the dinner, which featured thoughtful dishes by guest chefs Luis Roger of BCN Taste and Tradition, Philippe Verpiand of Etoile Cuisine et Bar, and Sash Kurgan of Doris Metropolitan, along with pastry chef Kristy Quach of Hotel ZaZa. Wine hosts chairman Robert T. Sakowitz challenged the chefs to create a menu based on water, air, and sea. The chefs responded with inspired fish, duck, and beef dishes.

Although Best Cellars is serious about the mission of the event, it’s also a great party. Country music legend Randy Travis and his wife, Mary, attended the dinner and the crowd jumped to their feet in applause. When award-winning songwriters Lance Miller, Rob Hatch, and Jerrod Niemann took the stage, impromptu two-stepping began.

The emcee and auctioneer for the night was Shawn Parr, host of the nationally syndicated radio show Nash Nights Live and voice of the American Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, and The Golden Globes. When Parr's flight was delayed, honorary chair Janke stepped up to the microphone until Parr arrived. Once there, Parr donned a sparkling jacket and hopped in the crowd during the live auction, spurring on the bids.

Those sipping and chatting included Dr. Robert Bast, Jr. and Blanche Bast, Stephanie and David Baird, Ed Finger, Hallie Vanderhider, Cathy and David Herr, Mark Bermann, Elizabeth and Alan Stein, Caroline and Gary Kenney, Laura and Jerry Kent, Kim and Mike Weill, Kimberly and Guy Stout, Chantell Preston, Chip Beaver, Becky and Michael Harris, Julie and Stephen Chen, Deana and Larry Blackburn, Carolyn Faulk and Pat Studdert, Jessica and Gabe Mena, Kelly and Steve Provenzano, Shari Heyen, and David Kurzweil.

Selfie Time!

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Selfie Time!

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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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