The
Women's Board of the Adler Planetarium, established in 1930
and the world's largest museum of astronomical history, sponsored
its Celestial Ball for the sixth year on November 1, 2008.
The theme was Night and Day – a theme that the Adler
venue can portray very well. Festivities began with cocktails and
hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner, an auction and dancing to
the music of TheBusiness. Guests also had
the opportunity to tour the Planetarium at their leisure and view
its many exhibits during the evening - a rare treat.
Dining tables were covered in black cloths with a myriad of
crystal and white calla lilies.The dinner menu featured a salad with
mixed greens, camembert, figs and raisins, followed by grass-fed
beef filet and a chocolate mousse dome or pumpkin cheese cake. There
were 415 guests present.
The auction items at this event are always special and, of course,
include several space oriented. A 2008 treasure was the Medallion
from Gemini 12, authenticated by Captain James Lovell and donated
by Lovell. Brian Cressey, Chair of the Adler Board of Trustees,
was the buyer. Also in the auction was the Ultimate Shuttle Experience, a
trip for four to view a space shuttle launch won by guest David Riley
and a lavish holiday in France won by Women's Board members,
Orli Staley and Linda Celesia.
Ball Sponsors included The Boeing Company, ComEd and Food for Thought.
The Corporate Chair was Scott C. Swanson, President and CEO, Charter
One Bank, and also, Vice Chairman of the Adler Board of Trustees.
The Honorary Ball Chair was Captain James a. Lovell, Jr. who made
four flights in space and who was the first human to travel to the
moon. The dinner chair was Pamela Cramer assisted by co-chairs,
Meg Prendergast and Michelle Vanderlaan. The president of the Women's
Board is Caroline Becker Joss and the president of the Adler Planetarium
is Paul H. Knappenberger, Jr.
Some of the guests included Orli Stanley and Bill Staley, Susan
Downing, Cynthia Ballew and Michael Smith, David Speer and
Barbara Speer, Carol Vander Wilt and Carl Vander Wilt, Susan Lovell,
Sarah Fritz and John Fritz, Marilyn Athas and Gus Athas, Linda Celesia
and Gastone Celesia, Lisa Lewis and Ray Lewis , Vera Clark and Frank
Clark.
Gala co-chair 
