No politician can be all things to all people. But you’ve got to hand it to Gov. Bill Ritter for giving it his best shotat a garden party promoting one of his wife’s most important causes, no less.
When Jeannie Ritter asked him to say a few words to the 400 guests, we suspect she thought he’d tell everyone what a good idea it was to contribute to this 10-year, $10 million campaign to preserve and maintain the historic Boettcher Mansion, home to Colorado governors for the better part of its 100-year history.
And he did. But only after informing them, “If you don’t want to give to the mansion, I’ve got a few other things you can (support).”
Last Thursday’s launch of the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund included a morning press conference with remarks by Jeannie Ritter and her predecessor, Frances Owens, and the garden party held on the mansion grounds from 6 to 9 p.m.
It was a grand occasion, with mansion staff-prepared food served on the terrace outside the historic residence’s Palm Room and on the carriage-house lawn. While many of the attendees were frequent visitors to the Governor’s Mansion, a good number were overheard saying it was the first time they’d mixed and mingled on the outdoor terraces.
A highlight came when it was announced that Ang loGold Ashanti North America, FirstBank, Patrick and Patricia McConathy, Saunders Construction and Twenty mile Coal Co./Peabody Energy have become Centennial Founding Partners with $100,000 donations each.
Garden party tickets were $75, and those proceeds also went to the fund.
Galloway Group president and chief executive officer Jean Galloway chairs the preservation fund’s board of directors, a 16-member group made up of such civic leaders as Saunders Construction President John Beeble; 7News anchor Theresa Marchetta; architect David Tryba and his wife, Stephanie; Deborah Jordy, executive director of Colorado Business Committee for the Arts; and Molly Broeren, owner of Molly’s of Denver.
Jeannie Ritter is honorary chairwoman of the board; pediatrician Dean Prina is the vice chair and Suzie Boyd, co-owner of Academy Roofing, serves as treasurer.
Guests included representatives from the McNichols, Lamm and Romer families, all of whom have had a governor in the mansion; Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, head of Colorado Homeland Security; Phyllis Coors; Colorado Historical Society President Ed Nichols; developher/philanthropist Larry Mizel; Bonfils-Stanton Foundation chief Dorothy Horrell and her husband, Ted; Denver Foundation leader David Miller and wife Lisa Farber Miller; international trade guru Don Elliman; Boettcher Foundation leader Tim Schultz; and Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson
