It’s not hard to feel the love at Adventist Healthcare Foundation’s Heart of Hearts Gala, especially this time when the silver anniversary honoree was LaFawn Biddle.
Her friends describe the popular Denver philanthropist as someone who’s all heart, and when her husband, legendary Denver oilman Dusty Biddle, succumbed to a brain tumor mere months before he and LaFawn were to have accepted the 2005 Henry M. Porter Award at Heart of Hearts, they were quick to step in and repay the compassion and support she had given so freely to others over the years.
They also were quick to respond when LaFawn appealed to them to honor Dusty’s memory by attending Heart of Hearts, which was one of his favorite events. As a result, there was a record turnout of 800 for the dinner and Natalie Cole show held at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
LaFawn served on the first Heart of Hearts committee and was a member of the Porter Hospital Foundation for 25 years. “Her leadership (on the foundation board) has been an inspiration to everyone …,” said Jim Reis, chairman of the Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation. She is now an emeritus member of the board.
In addition to Porter Hospital, the Biddles had been generous supporters of other local causes, particularly those dealing with hearing impairments, dance and nursing, and representatives from each turned out to help pay tribute to their friend.
Greta and Don Pollard, Lorraine and Darby Smith and Anita and Dr. Joe Becky were there from Friends of Nursing, while Linnea and Herm Zueck, Anita and Charles Harrison, Diane and Buzz Sweat, Mary and Dick Kreutzer; and Marianne and Gary Ceriani helped represent Denver Ballet Guild.
Dusty Biddle’s original business partner, Exeter Oil founder Fred Mayer and his wife, Jan, were there, too, along with their son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Delisa Mayer.
Such past Porter Award recipients as Joe Blake and his wife, Elizabeth; Dr. Mark Sheehan and his wife, Linda; and Dr. Gary VanderArk and his wife, Phyllis, also took part in the festivities, as did Colorado first lady Frances Owens; Jon Hoehn, president of the Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation board; Littleton Hospital’s chief executive, David Crane; Porter Hospital CEO, James Boyle; Joel Edelman; Bob and Diane Greenlee of Rock Bottom Restaurants; Faye and Dr. Reginald Washington; Tiffany & Co. director Chad McKeehan and his wife, Nia; Karen and Kris Ordelheide; Bill and Alice Collister; Holley and Dr. Karyl Vanbenthuysen; Hugh and Sandra Tighe; perennial entertainment sponsors Bill and Betty Ruth Hewit; auction chair Cristi Lundquist; Dale Cantwell and Pamela Ray; Kathy and Dr. Larry Emmons; Jeff and Sandi Johnson; John and Paige LaCouture; Bob and Barb Page; and Mark Koebrich of 9News, the event’s emcee.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
