San Francisco Dinner : March 11, 2005

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On Friday March 11th, Jon Folan was honored at the San Francisco American Ireland Fund dinner at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

Jon received the Distinguished Leadership Award from dinner chairs, Craig Sullivan and Bill Walsh.

This was a wonderful tribute to one of San Francisco's most treasured National Board Members; Jon has been around since the founding of the Fund in San Francisco in 1986. The Folan family was out in force and the girls, especially Gail, were glamorous and gorgeous!

AIF Chairman, Loretta Brennan Glucksman was in town from New York with AIF Executive Committee Chairman, Kip Condron for the National Board Meeting.

Guests of honor included Irish Minister Frank Fahey from the Department of Justice and Consul.General in San Francisco, Donal Denham. Mayor Jerry Brown of Oakland also attended. All local San Francisco Directors attended including Maryon Davies Lewis and Pauline Ryan. They were joined by Sheila O' Malley from New York, Mike Corboy from Dallas, Chuck Daly from Boston and John Duffy also from New York. Also present were Ed Timmins from Denver, Bill McNally from Boston, Fran Van Kirk from Philadelphia and Brian Monaghan from San Diego.

The Colonial Room was a buzz with excitement during the cocktail reception. Dinner guests were treated to a delightful performance of Irish dancing by the adorable children from the Moore School of Irish Dance. A group of master trumpeters announced the arrival of Jon and Gail Folan in the Grand Ballroom and they were welcomed by our special presenters Terry Lowry and Fred Lacosse. Irish music was provided by Ben Hunter and Celtic Scandal before the dancing began with Dave Martin's House party.

Some of our favorite friends were with us to celebrate with Jon including Anita and Red Fay, the Burns family, Greg Murphy of Alliance Bernstein, Mark Brosche, Mark Cleary, Avery Chope, Dick Bradley, David Whitehead, Bart Murphy, and auctioneer Patrick Meade of Bonhams and Butterfields.

Special thanks to our wonderful dinner committee members, Bart Murphy, Gabriel Jackson Renstrom, Mary Toboni, Tim Lucey, Meagan Levitan, Sheila McWilliams, Brian Mullins, Helen Wilmot, Jerry Reardon, Tim McGowan, Pauline Ryan, Suzi Tinsley, Nola Masterson, Phil Kearney, Siobhan Denham, Sandra Kearney and our dinner coordinator extraordinaire, Maryanne Murray. See you next March!

Photos

1 . Honoree Jon Folan, Gail Folan and family
2 . Rod and Jill Burns
3 . Jon Folan, Chuck Daly, Bill McNally
4 . Mike Corboy, Jon Folan, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chuck Daly, Bill McNally
5 . Minister Frank Fahey, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Consul General Donal Denham
6 . Marjorie Muldowney and Siobhan Denham, wife of Consul.General Donal Denham
7 . Pauline and John Ryan and guests
8 . Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Hamilton and Ed Timmins
9 . Moore School of Irish Dancers
10 . Brian and Gerri Monaghan with Fran and Alicia Van Kirk
11 . Ken Hagan, Geoff Callan and Kevin O'Brien
12 . Meredyth Masterson and guest
13 . Mary Toboni, Michaela Alioto and Angela Alioto
14 . Red and Anita Fay
15 . Janet and Matt Regan, Dale Carlson, Meagan Levitan
16 . Jon Folan and guests
17 . Consul. General Donal Denham, Maureen Sullivan, Minister Frank Fahey
18 . Craig Sullivan and Bill Walsh, dinner chairs
19 . Jon Folan
20 . Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fitzpatrick
21 . Jerry and Lynn Reardon
22 . Caitlin and John Duffy
23 . Bart Murphy and Kevin McDonagh
24 . Jane Walsh, Ken Flowers, Jon Folan, Bill Walsh
25 . Mr. and Mrs. David Whitehead
26 . Bill and Katie Jensen