Cathey Finlon during the 40 years she has been associated with the .
In 1974, after moving here from Philadelphia, she was hired as its first development director. She held that position for about 10 years before striking out on her own to start McClain Finlon, which grew to become one of the nation’s top 50 advertising firms.
Her departure as development director didn’t mean she was finished serving the museum. She was elected to the board of trustees in 1994 and remains a member to this day.
And, after closing McClain Finlon in 2008, she took a little breather before returning to the museum to serve as its president from 2009 to 2013. Two major exhibitions, “Yves St. Laurent: The Retrospective” and “Becoming Van Gogh,” occurred on her watch.
Finlon’s service was celebrated at Collectors’ Choice 34, a black-tie cocktail reception and dinner that included a surprise performance by Denver’s Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves.
The event chaired by Ann and Kevin Reidy and Jane and Fred Hamilton raised $630,000. Both couples are longtime friends of Finlon and her husband, Dick; Kevin Reidy recently succeeded Finlon as chair of the board of directors.
“Cathey is a wonderful friend of the Denver Art Museum — and an icon of style,” observed director Christoph Heinrich. For the gala, Finlon, who favors such designers as Armani, Dries Van Noten and Jean Paul Gaultier, wore a gown by British designer Jenny Packham, whose clients include the Duchess of Cambridge, Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz.
“Who needs décor? Cathey always lights up the room,” remarked friend and fellow fashionista Natalie Rekstad-Lynn.
Gov. John Hickenlooper, an honorary trustee of the museum, led a toast that also mentioned Finlon’s dedication to causes ranging from the Denver Public Schools Foundation to Junior Achievement and the Colorado Outward Bound School. “On behalf of a very, very grateful state, thank you, Cathey,” he said as he joined Heinrich in presenting her with a set of Cartier cuff links as a memento of the evening.
She was thrilled.
“I’ve never owned anything by Cartier,” she said. “I will treasure these.”
Guests at the sold-out event included former museum director Lewis Sharp; benefactor Jan Mayer; board chair Lanny Martin; vice chair Charlie Gallagher and such trustees as Jana Bartlit, Nancy Lake Benson, Arlene Hirschfeld, Sarah Hunt, Wayne Murdy, Trygve Myhren, Bob Newman Kate Paul, Bill Pauls and Dick Robinson.
State treasurer Walker Stapleton was there, too, along with Pete and Marilyn Coors; University of Colorado president Bruce Benson and his wife, Marcy; Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce chief Kelly Brough; Bob and Suzanne Fanch, the owners of Devil’s Thumb Ranch; Ron and Cille Williams; Jack Finlaw, president of the University of Colorado Foundation, and partner Greg Movesian; Bob and Kalleen Malone; Dianne Eddolls and Glenn Jones; Jeremy and Holly Arnold Kinney; Joy Johnson and Tom Whitten with his wife, Michelle Sie Whitten.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
Online: More pictures from this event denverpost.com/seen gallery
Two honored at real hope
Sheila Bugdanowitz and Sheryl Goodman were honored when Jewish Family Service revamped its signature fundraiser, Real Hope. The former Reel Hope not only had a new name, but a new venue and format. Joanne Davidson has details in the Mile High Style blog blogs.denverpost.com/style
