By: TJVnews.com
In the midst of the winter and holiday celebrations one of the last highlights of the gala season continues to be National Jewish Health’s (NJH) Real Estate Construction dinner dance. The Denver based NJH was founded in 1899 and with its relatively small $300 million budget continues to be the leading respiratory hospital in the nation devoted to conducting groundbreaking medical research and treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Five years ago they collaborated with Mount Sinai and opened two centers in Harlem and Union Square. Paying homage to this institution has become a pivotal date on the calendar of hundreds of moguls who gather at the Hyatt every second Saturday night in December for one of the premier socialization events. This year dinner chairs Jonathan Mechanic, Stephen Siegel, and Robert Ivanhoe joined fellow luminaries Lloyd Goldman, Larry Silverstein, James Kuhn, Gary Jacob, Matt Lustig and 850 others.
Fried Frank’s Jonathan Mechanic is hands-down the top real estate lawyer in the country gaining acclaim for both his intellectual acumen at dealmaking as well as his extraordinary rainmaking capabilities as his clients range from Fortune 500 companies to family dynasties. Hobnobbing with this illustrious group for $750 was the bargain of the season especially since it contained an elaborate cocktail reception (beginning at 6:30 PM), a meat dinner and dessert table, and over-the-top entertainment. This year there was thankfully only one honoree, Marty Burger, so the speeches were short and there was no fundraising or auction portion-the most dreaded part of any gala. Moreover the night’s spectacular decor had even the most jaded New Yorkers oohing and aahing at co- chair, Wendy Siegel’s, much heralded efforts. Wendy suffers from leukemia and after requiring a bone marrow transplant and being comatose for six days NJH came to the rescue on more than one occasion; consequently she devotes nearly a year towards planning the evening’s entertainment and ornamentation. This year’s Mardi Gras theme produced the most jaw-dropping results I can remember. Walking into the unassuming Hyatt, one was greeted with dozens of feathered dancers, colored chandeliers, portrait artists, women on stilts and centerpieces depicting streets in New Orleans. Even the normally stolid Larry Silverstein appeared awed by the lavish display.
Those who don’t know Silverstein his name is synonymous with New York Real Estate having built and rebuilt the World Trade Center complex as well as 30 Park Place-one of New York’s tallest residential towers. The 88-year-old Silverstein was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant and together with his father, more than 70 years ago, began buying up office buildings in Midtown and Lower Manhattan. During college, Silverstein met his wife Klara in summer camp and they continue their love affair as Larry can often be seen clutching Klara’s arm. The evening honored the CEO of Silverstein Properties, Marty Burger-whom Larry effusively praised as someone with an impeccable track record. The normally laconic Larry expounded upon the virtues of Burger saying he was looking for a CEO ten years ago and Burger was the perfect fit due to his dedication to community and togetherness. He described Burger as an energetic phenom whose office proudly displays two speeding tickets-not for the typical driving but for straight line skiing down a steep mountain. Silverstein was desperately searching for someone outside his family to take over and lauded Burger for taking the organization to stratospheric heights. Silverstein recalled becoming involved with National Jewish Health 51 years ago after his excruciating asthma led him to their hospital. NJH gave him a medicine normally prescribed for children which successfully provided immediate relief and resulted in Larry becoming a lifelong devotee to the organization. Donating millions and getting his illistrious group of friends to do the same has changed the fortune of this critical organization.
Another inimitable cog in this wheel is the indomitable Wendy Siegel whose husband Stephen, Vice Chairman of CBRE and a legend in the real estate world, praised Wendy for dedicating her time and energy to raising money for the past 26 years. Wendy joked that she and Silverstein just arrived from Santacon and were ready to party. Wendy also inaugurated dedicated member Lloyd Goldman as a trustee. The meal was definitely New Orleans centered with crawfish and spare ribs accompanied by chocolate pecan pie and cheesecake. At 10 PM, the speeches and dinner portion concluded and guests headed to the dance floor where the more than 20-person band regaled the crowd with pop hits that had the crowd screaming with delight. At 11:30 PM, after nearly two-and-a-half-million had been raised, guests left with a bag containing New Orleans treats such as a cocktail mix and a book of its history-concluding a meticulous night that raises the expectations for next year to nearly unattainable heights.
Photo credit by Lieba Nesis
