There were plenty who wondered, back in 1997 when Helen Ginsburg started AWARE, if Denver could support yet another guild.
A decade later, the answer was a loud and enthusiastic “yes,” and to honor the effort and leadership Ginsburg provided as AWARE grew from 19 members to 400, the Alzheimer’s Women’s Auxiliary for Research and Education dedicated its November fundraiser, Memories Lost & Found, to her.
By tradition, Memories Lost & Found is a luncheon, but this year it was an evening function that filled the Marriott City Center with those grateful to the Cherry Hills Village artist for her vision in bringing more attention, and research dollars, to Alzheimer’s, a disease that is rapidly reaching epidemic proportions and for which there is no cure. Ginsburg started AWARE after her mother, Lillian B. Tucker, succumbed to it; there are approximately 65,000 known cases of Alzheimer’s disease in Colorado and 5 million nationwide. Unless a cure is found, a projected 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s by 2050.
Chairwomen Cinnie Auer and Debbie Davis planned an evening that included dinner, prizes, dancing to the music of the Hazel Miller Band and plenty of time for congratulations and reminiscing.
Speakers recounted the many milestones AWARE has achieved under Ginsburg’s leadership.
She had the idea for Memories Lost & Found, which has featured such well-known speakers as actor Blair Underwood and Patti Davis, daughter of the late President Ronald Reagan; she also spearheaded the drive to establish the Alzheimer’s Memory Grove and Garden, which was dedicated in August in Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood.
Founding members were Carole Cantor Adelstein, Sandra Arkin, Bette Cooper, Jan Cortez, Helenn Franzgrote, Sharon Whiton Gelt, Charlene Loup, Dr. Gratia Meyer, Sue Watters Provost, Cindy Schulz, Brenda Sheldon, Elizabeth Shwayder Kelly, Marlene Siegel, Jaylene Smith, Frances Stern and the late Sandie Foster, Sue Kaufman and Florence Ruston.
In addition to members of Ginsburg’s family — husband, Morris; son Noel and daughter-in-law Leslie Ginsburg; and assorted grandchildren, siblings and cousins — guests included Linda Mitchell, president and CEO of the Colorado chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association; board president Susan Barnhill; AWARE president Terrie Fontenot; president-elect Debi Tepper; and immediate past president Kathy Klugman.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, blogs.denverpost .
