Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Legal elite honored at Law Foundation event

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 | 8:13 a.m.

Four Seasons was the gathering point Saturday for Nevada's legal elite at the Nevada Law Foundation's 12th Silver Ball.

Richard Elmore, chairman of the foundation, said that the dinner-dance recognized 10 Nevada judges and attorneys for exceptional contributions, among them former Clark County Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo as well as attorneys Robert Carlson, Brent Carson, Robert Cottle, Megan Dorsey, Tracy Eglet, Linda Linton, Thomas Sheets, Robert Vannah and William Voy.

Their efforts are part of the foundation's mission to fund legal services and advocacy to impoverished and disadvantaged Nevadans.

Services include temporary protection orders for abused women and families, the assignment of court-ordered special advocates to children in need of representation, and the administration of programs to educate citizens and provide counsel for abused women and children.

Funding is primarily provided by the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts program, in which 85 percent of all Nevada attorneys participate. Since its inception in 1983, the foundation has donated nearly $4 million for services to Nevadans in need.

Co-chaired by John Moran Jr. and his wife, Marilyn, with honorary co-chairs Jim Rogers and his wife, Beverly, the event was a sell-out affair with 420 in attendance. Rogers, the interim chancellor of the state university system, also served as keynote speaker and gave a rousing presentation on the state of the Boyd College of Law at UNLV.

Sipping champagne during the opening reception were law partners Jim Crockett with bride Traci and Rich Myers with wife Carolyne, who is also an attorney. They were joined by foundation treasurer Dr. John Ellerton and attorney wife Marie, with District Judge Mark and Alice Denton.

Nancy Allf and husband Dave Thomas, Kathleen and Darwin Paustian, Norman and Carol Kirschman, Tim and Ann Thomas, and Rob Rosenthal with Laura Rodriquez, used the occasion to celebrate their new firm of Parsons, Behle & Latimer. The firm also has offices in Reno, Salt Lake City and Phoenix.

Accepting best wishes on the birth of son Max (age 2 months) were J.T. and Jodi Moran, while Liz and Pete Gibson, Gary Houston with wife Joyce Goerglin and Judge Valorie Vega and husband Howard Stutz perused the auction tables. Talking politics and legislative issues were Judge Michael Cherry and Sheryl Kogan, state Sen. Dina Titus and husband Dr. Tom Wright with Becky Pinjuv and Bob Potter.

Robert Maddox, Nevada Trial Lawyers Association's 2000 honoree, who divides his time between Las Vegas and Reno, hosted a table for colleagues, including his wife, Nancy Maddox, in addition to Dave and Bonnie Duristsa, Troy and Jeanne Isaacson, Melissa Mills, and his guests Michael and Theresa Minden, who donated the $4,000 diamond bracelet Maddox later purchased in the live auction led by KTNV Channel 13 weatherman Nate Tannenbaum.

Seen table-hopping between courses of the fine meal were May Muskin, Chief Justice Nancy Becker of the Nevada Supreme Court, Elaina Hatch, Nancy Katz (R&R Partners), Gerald and Marci Welt, Patricia and Richard Wright, Ray Wong, Robert Langford, and Sugar and Mark Vogel.

High times

Breaking from tradition, HELP of Southern Nevada chose to crown a royal court of community leaders rather than a couple during its Mardi Gras night Saturday.

Arriving with great fanfare in parade fashion with New Orleans-styled music and a mime were honorees Renee and Bill Marion, Charlotte Hill, and past executive director Deni Conrad and husband Steve. Also recognized, but unable to attend, was Punam Mathur.

Held at the Orleans, the high-spirited evening received a special boost from the serving of rum-laced hurricanes, a favored beverage for Mardi Gras celebrations. The event marked HELP of Southern Nevada's 35th year of acting on its mission to assist families and individuals throughout Southern Nevada to overcome barriers and attain self-sufficiency through direct services, training and referral.

Board members Garry Dickover (Courtyard Marriott), Rich McGough (First National Bank of Marin) and Dawn Merritt (Sprint) planned the evening, working closely with HELP's new executive director Terrie Stanfill and development officer Fuilala Riley.

Joining the swirl of attendees, who later danced to the music of Tommy Rocker, were Dan and Bambi Bryant (Southwest Gas), Alan and Bonnie Helms (Marnell Properties), Paul and Linda Rheinberger (Greater Las Vegas Board of Realtors), David and Sandra Williams (Sierra Health Services), Will and Paige Candee (Purdue-Marion and Associates) and John Miller (United Way).

Present as well was Dr. Rene Mauban, landlord to HELP's new center at 1640 E. Flamingo Road, who was thanked during the program for his many contributions.

Pat and Joy Shalmy, last year's Mardi Gras king and queen, were seen with past honorees Lou and Jerry Emmert and former Sen. Richard Bryan and his wife, Bonnie.

Shalmy, in crowning the 2005 royal court, also spoke of his personal commitment to HELP as well as dedication to the charity as president of Nevada Power Co. Giving supporters a special glimpse into HELP's life-changing endeavors was former client Frank Young.

His story, a spiral of personal loss, medical issues and victimization, left him homeless before HELP's services helped him regain his self-sufficiency. Among those listening attentively were Tom and Maryann Kummer (Kummer, Kaempfer, Bonner & Renshaw), Bob and Susan Cottino (Southwest Gas), Leo and Rene Diamond, Vicky Dickover, Rhoda Anderson, Beverly and Jerry Saperstein, Pat Kelly, Steve and Janet Linder and Sam Lieberman.