Should his catering thing not work out, Larry DiPasquale could always think about becoming a weatherman.
After all, he was spot-on when, a few numbers into her cabaret act, The Great American Songbook, Stepfanie Kramer paused to fan herself and inquire of the packed house, “Is it hot in here?”
“No!,” DiPasquale shot back. “You’re hot!”
OK so maybe he wasn’t referring to the weather. But the owner of Epicurean Catering was indeed speaking for those attending the benefit concert at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret. The concert, part of an evening that began with dinner at The Palm, raised enough money for the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers Foundation to assist at least 10 cancer patients with their bills as they are being treated for various forms of cancer.
“We don’t cure their cancer, but we can help with their utilities and day-to-day expenses,” noted Stephanie Shulman, the foundation’s executive director.
Ellen Robinson Schwartz coordinated the event and had no trouble convincing Kramer, her cousin, to be the headliner. Not only does Kramer enjoy singing — she’s a mezzo-soprano — returning to Denver was an opportunity to reunite with the many friends she made while living here for several years following the end of her six-year run as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall on television’s “Hunter.”
In addition to Schwartz, family members turning out for the benefit included Dick and Marcia Robinson, Eddie and Susan Robinson and John and Kathleen Ziegler.
Marcia and Dick, incidentally, were sharing the happy news that their son and daughter-in-law, John and Lisa Robinson, will be moving back to Denver shortly with their children after spending several years in Texas where John was an executive with the dairy division of a major food company.
Ellen Schwartz is Marcia and Dick’s daughter, and she was celebrating her birthday that night. And though she would rather have kept that fact low-key, her husband, Mark Schwartz, marked the occasion by bringing a cake large enough for everyone to have a slice.
And Kramer led the audience in singing a round of “Happy Birthday.”
The warm summer weather was all the incentive several of the guests needed to dine on The Palm’s patio before walking across the plaza to the Clocktower Cabaret.
Those supporting the cause included Bob and Kalleen Malone; Dr. Deborah Shaw; Norm and Sunny Brownstein; Ron and Miriam Abreu; Nancy Sagar; Jay and Kristina Davidson; Gary and Donna Antonoff; Steve and Robin Chotin; Jamie Angelich; Dick Tucker and Sandy Melnick; Hank and Bobette Robinson; Jill DiPasquale; Steve and Michelle Toltz; Sue McFarlane; Tom and Danielle Okin; Bradley Joseph; Dr. Dean Prina; Gary Mobell; and Donna Crafton, who was discreetly spreading the word that comedian Chelsea Handler will be here in the fall to headline a benefit for NewGenesis, a program that helps the homeless.
Pictures taken at this event can be viewed at denverpost.com/seengallery
Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com