Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Unexpected announcement shakes up party

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, June 28, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoyt@prodigy.net.

A surprise indeed was in store for guests attending a small birthday party for Chelli Wolford at the Las Vegas Country Club. Making the startling announcement of their recent marriage was Chelli's beau-turned-husband, state Assemblyman David Goldwater, who revealed the couple had married a month earlier.

Wed in private ceremonies on May 11 in Las Vegas, the couple kept their nuptials a secret until their announcement at the party marking the new Mrs. Goldwater's 27th birthday. Goldwater, who represents Assembly District 10, met his bride last year. Chelli, a graduate of the U.S Naval Academy, is direct sales manager for Spring PCS. Immediately following the announcement at the party, the couple telephoned the bride's parents, Ron and Lu Ann Ledbetter in Columbus, Ohio.

Celebrants at the party included the groom's mother, Mary, and his father, David Goldwater Sr., his brother, Jason Goldwater, Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, Assemblywoman Chris Guinchigliani, Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley with her son, Aiden, Toni Clark with Larry Finuf, Doris Evans and political gurus Gary Gray and Billy Vassilliadis.

Remembering Roe

We join Tova and Ernest Borgnine and their family in mourning the loss of her mother, Aase Roe. Born in Norway and a longtime resident of the Las Vegas Country Club, Mrs. Roe was an elegant woman -- noted for her sense of humor -- who dealt the high-stakes game of baccarat at the Desert Inn for 14 years. She was well-cared for by her daughter, Tova, and grandson, David Johnson, who divided their time between homes in Beverly Hills and the country club residence here.

Tova, an innovator in the cosmetics field and popular QVC Shopping Network commentator, is active in both local and national efforts for the Alzheimer's Association. She honored her mother in recent years when she shared keynote speaker duties with Maureen Reagan at a highly successful Alzheimer's luncheon chaired by Debra Shaiken at Bally's. The family has asked that donations in Mrs. Roe's memory be made to the local Alzheimer's chapter.

Epicurean Affair

Philanthropic efforts to assist Nevada students with scholarships for their resort industries studies at Nevada colleges and professional institutes have never been more pleasant than the recent Epicurean Affair 2000. In its 10th year and jointly sponsored by the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association and the Nevada Restaurant Association, this spectacular evening was the opening event for the Las Vegas International Hotel and Restaurant Show.

Hosted by the Rio in its massive new Pavilion Center, the gourmet gathering drew a vast crowd including Terri Maruca, Les and Tammy Kincaid, UNLV Regent Tom and Lynn Wiesner, Ted Falum, Christopher Johns, Karen Johnson and Leigh and Ed Skonecki.

Wined and dined by the 60 participating restaurants with their finest offerings, guests were equally dazzled by the lavish displays, ice carvings and themed decor of the serving stations that gave a representative sense of each individual establishment's ambiance. Freshly prepared in easy view were specialty dishes drawn from many cultures and countries, all excellent reminders of the diversity of our community's finest dining options.

Supporting the affair were industry leaders including Karen Dorsey with Gary and Cindy Ellis, Felix and Louise Rappaport and Brian O'Shields, to name just a few. Complimenting Van Heffner, president-CEO of the Nevada Restaurant Association, on the planning of the spectacular evening were Gary Davis, Thomas Brookner with Lynn Wirth, Domingo Cambeiro, Anne Mulfore, Tony Goitia, John Bastian with Trish Mortensen and UNLV football coach John Robinson, who served as keynote speaker for the convention's All-American Breakfast event.

Pleased to be home in Las Vegas for the scholarship benefit were Beverly and Mike Mykiessen, who recently returned from a lengthy trip to Tahiti and other South Seas destinations. Others participating in both social and professional offerings included John Futrell, Thomas Rosenberger, Irwin Kishner, Jackie Brett, Mark Di Martino with his wife, Graciella, Richard St. Jean, Dean Gross and Sam Facchini.

True independence

Galerie Lassen in the Forum Shops at Caesars has announced its special Independence Day show with artist Christian Riese Lassen to make a special appearance as he unveils his latest works, "Endless Harmony" and "Secret Reef." Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes will be host for opening festivities that benefit the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies and Visual Arts, a local performing arts high school committed to the advancement of students studying various areas of the performing arts.

The exhibit and a free offering of entertainment by Holmes and Las Vegas' own 4 NOW band will be open to the public beginning at 9 p.m. An international philanthropist, Lassen donates a portion of all proceeds from his 10 galleries worldwide to a number of charities, including SeaVision, his personal charity committed to the preservation of wildlife. A percentage of gross proceeds from the evening will go directly the the Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts.