AROUND TOWN: Luncheons mark memories, dedication
Two luncheon celebrations, two groups of longtime friends and two long lists of community involvement by local women.
Altogether, 125 years of Colorado Springs history.
The Tuesday Luncheon Club harkens back to philanthropist Julie Penrose, whose husband founded The Broadmoor hotel.
The "Hats Off Luncheon" is a tradition of the Colorado Springs Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, chartered in 1969.
Tuesday Luncheon Club
For 85 years, their family names have been readily recognizable: Sinton, Hibbard, Lennox, Bonforte (Bon Shopping Center), Flaks, Tutt, Freudenberg and so many more.
Husbands and fathers (and now grandfathers and in-laws) were successful businessmen, architects, lawyers and doctors.
While these four generations of women have long histories of philanthropy and community involvement, they sought something strictly social with their closest friends, something filled with laughter and camaraderie. Membership was capped at 50.
Since 1924, the genteel luncheons - on original Penrose china - almost always have been in the elegant Broadmoor dining room. An exception was made for the 75th anniversary celebration, which went to founder Julie Penrose's former home, El Pomar.
TLC gatherings were regularly reported on what were The Gazette's society pages.
On June 9, the 85th celebration, "Reflections Through the Years," opened with a social time and piano accompaniment in the Pompeiian Room before members and guests shared the traditional meal and a video history by TLC President Kim Matthews.
Four women, members of the club for more than 30 years each, were honored.
Caroline Brown, The Gazette's former longtime social writer and daughter of one of the club's earliest members, Lillian Burnham Morrison, was invited to join the club in 1947.
What brought a chuckle is that for years she was unable to attend the luncheons because she played a serious game of golf in a women's league every Tuesday morning.
The community volunteer, who was the 1987 Assistance League Silver Bell Award recipient, was escorted to lunch by her husband, Dr. Sam Brown, and her son and daughter-in-law, Charlie and Denise Brown.
Mary Louise Caudill was married four times and outlived all four husbands, recounted Matthews to great laughter. A former journalist and teacher, she, too, was a golfer as well as an avid skier. She was active in politics and church activities, and loved "elaborate" literary gatherings.
Barbara Carlton took gentle ribbing about growing up in Wyoming, camping in sheep wagons and toting a gun. A nurse, she later married Dr. Robert Carlson. She has a long résumé of volunteer work in the arts as well as medical groups. In 1977 the self-confessed tomboy was in Julia Child's culinary class in Paris.
Jule Haney, whose table was filled with family members, was a schoolteacher, community volunteer, fundraiser and a model. Regular family road trips meant that she, her husband and two children visited every state in the contiguous U.S. and spent three months on the road through Europe. Books and bridge are a passion.
TLC members said a thank-you to Bill Roub, retired Broadmoor food and beverage manager, who had been integral to their luncheons for 38 years.
Colorado Springs Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The sunny upstairs ballroom at the Crowne Plaza hotel bloomed with spring colors June 6 as several hundred sorority alumnae celebrated their 40th anniversary with a kaleidoscope of chapeau.
The "Hats Off Luncheon" paid tribute to years of giving back to the community and to a legacy of promoting academic excellence. And it focused on the future.
The alumnae group, founded in 1969, was the first African-American sorority or fraternity to be chartered in Colorado Springs, said luncheon organizer Sharon Tunson. Julia Miller, a 50-year group member, was cheered as she came forward for an award.
What they saw when they looked out over the guests spanning several generations was "a roomful of sisters. Vanilla, cinnamon and dark chocolate brown," said Tunson and group President Monica Brown-Kirkwood.
There were ohs and ahs as a group of adorable little girls, dressed in Sunday-best white, followed Erika Tunson to the stage to be presented for a song as the CSAC Delta Sparkles. The tiny ones, along with 3-month-old Sarayah Dilwood, are the Deltas of the future, said the Rev. Savannah Jackson. The same for solo interpretive dancer Jade Daniels.
Besides honoring young people with scholarships, the Deltas singled out four women for their work in the community.
Megumi Nakamura of the Pikes Peak Immigrant and Refugee Collaborative, who said people should "acknowledge the tensions and dialogue for change," was behind the creation of an immigrant's guidebook to the Pikes Peak region, and she facilitated Black/Brown Dialogue Circles.
Willie Straws, now a retired professor of nursing, was saluted for being tireless as she works toward improving health and wellness in the community. She's on major boards and committees. Straws said, "The essence of life is to love and help people." Her presenter, Edna Williams, said Straws spurred her to volunteer, saying emphatically, "Edna, if you live in Colorado Springs you should be doing something."
Mary Thurman, deputy superintendent for personnel support services in School District 11, "facilitates a task force focusing on eliminating the achievement and graduation gaps of African-American, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students," her award said.
"My family is the D-11 family," said Thurman, who was touched by a table of district supporters, standing and cheering, including the superintendent, board members and staff.
She introduced her other family, her high school sweetheart and husband of 38 years, Daniel.
County Judge Regina Walter has done more than 1,000 hours of diversity training for those in this area, said presenter Adrienne McMillian. She organized the Disproportionate Minority Confinement Task Force and the Educating Children of Color conference.
Citing the numbers of young people, particularly those of color, in jail, she said, "We need to make a change, we must make a change."
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Send information about nonprofit events and fundraisers to linda.navarro@gazette.com or mail to Linda Navarro, P.O. Box 1779, Colorado Springs, 80901.
