Dreamy Lights and Dazzling Night
The New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation themed “Luces de Ensueño en la Ceiba” for the most recent Azucar Ball in the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. A black-tie gala, it was presented by Pan American Life Insurance Group and benefited the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation Scholarship Program, which has Belinda Flores-Shinshillas as the executive director. A threesome, Rosa Rodriguez, Isis Casanova and Ashley Morgan, chaired the event that counted 19 committee chairs and 37 committee members. Scores frolicked.
During the 7 pm patron party with music by Cristina Kaminis, and Veho Hospitality Group and Tacos del Cartel as sponsors, guests gravitated to the OneCause.com-“powered” silent auction that featured art, local hotel packages, AMFund trips, and gold and diamond earrings donated by Friend & Company to benefit the Cristina J. Fowler Scholarship Fund. Catching the collective eye, too, were the fabulous Royal Events decorations done in a palette of aqua and marine blue as a nod to La Ceiba in Honduras, a major port of the Caribbean Sea and named after the giant ceiba tree that grew near the old dock. The city also has a famous carnival in May.
An hour later, the merry momentum was to the Empire Ballroom where Papo & Son Mandao packed the dance floor. So did DJ Felipe “Pipe” Estrada. Latin American rhythms permeated the premises. Eighteen local restaurants purveyed with diverse dishes, libations were from 10 donors, and Dunn and Sonnier did the fantastic florals.
A highlight of the Honduras hobnobbing was the presentation of the foundation’s Galvez Cup to Dr. Leonardo Seoane, the founding dean of the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, by NOHHF board president Heidi Kiesling, board vice president/chairman emeritus George J. Fowler III, and Pan American Life Insurance Group CEO Jose Suquet and his wife, Ileana. After the award presentation, guests and patrons participated in a “Comparsa” second line that was joined by the Azucar Ball’s organizing committee and Carl Mack performers.
Headliners were numerous and included the Suquets, Jones Walker Managing Partner Bill Hines with Mary, Entergy President and CEO Deanna Rodriguez, Patricia Riddlebarger of Entergy, Dr. Seoane and spouse Michelle, Ochsner Health System Pete November, then Mayor–elect Helena Moreno with husband Chris Meeks, Bethany and Steven Friedman, Robert and Belkis DiCianni, Carmen and Kelly Duncan, Dr. Juan and Ana Gershanik, Jacqueline Simon, Suzanne and Michael Mestayer, and, in front of a dazzling aquatic background, a thematic mermaid. She couldn’t dance, but just about everyone else did.
Victory!
Turning back the pages of history finds Rachel Jackson, the beloved wife of General Andrew Jackson, lamenting the fact that, because of war, she and other wives of Tennessee officers had been separated from their husbands for too long. When news of Andrew Jackson’s stunning victory at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 2015, which effectively ended the War of 1812 against the British, reached Rachel, she headed to New Orleans to celebrate. During the balls to honor the Jacksons, the New Orleans elite presented their young ladies to them.
Every year, the Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Louisiana recreates a Grand Ball to commemorate Jackson’s victory, where the “Belles of New Orleans” are presented to General Jackson, Louisiana Governor William C.C. Claiborne, and New Orleans Mayor Nicholas Girod. Respectively, society members Rene J. Navarre, Brig. Gen. Rodney B. Painting, and Roger F. Villere Jr., the ball’s general chairman, portrayed the historical threesome at the most recent ball in the Deutsches Haus. Brig. Gen. John Bettes Dunlap III served as both the grand marshal and committee chairman. William Allerton III was the program chairman, and Ronald. J. Drez Sr., Greg Gonzales, retired Judge John Clifford Grout III, Paul Mire Melancon, D.D.S., Henry P. Rouquette Jr., Mike Schiro, and Brig. Gen. Painting answered to committeemen. Mr. Navarre is the society’s president and Maj. Bradley T. Hayes, vice president.
To initiate the program, Grand Marshal Dunlap gave the call to order (and, moments later, the introduction of honored guests and dignitaries), and Maj. Bradley, the invocation. The Gfunk Band played the national anthem.
A choice moment occurred when three demoiselles were presented: Cécile Curran, Grace Ohlmeyer and Eleanor Curtis, in turn, Misses New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi. Their escorts were Messrs. John McNamara, Rouquette and Schiro. After the presentation and colors were retired, the young ladies waltzed with their uniformed escorts. Dinner then followed, as did more dancing, and jubilation reigned.
Cotillion
The Hilton New Orleans Airport in Kenner was the site for the night when the New Orleans Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., held its 58th annual Debutante Cotillion. It was titled “Royal Affair; Crowning the Grace of Tomorrow” and was decorated accordingly. Miss Anais En’Vie Santemore wore the crown as the 2025 queen. She and her majesty of 2024, Gabrielle Marie Johnson, received bouquets of red roses from sorority president Tracey L. Rollins.
Debutante Scholarships were awarded to queen Anais, Ava L’Martha Atkins and Amari Arnell Dupree, while Escort Scholarships tapped Byron Keith Turner II and William Peoples III, the Most Cooperative Escort. The Jabberwock awardees were Bailee Evette Meredith (Most Cooperative Debutante), Willow Jani Wright and Miss Atkins. Angelle Monai Barrow was Miss Congeniality and Community Service awardee.
Roxanne Rankin Watts chaired the cotillion and Kathy Fields McLeod and Lacey Seals Smith co-chaired. Further notables were Pamela Moore Rogers, Margaret F. Washington, Gloria Bartley Moultrie, Sharon Canon, Rachel Mercadel, Pamela White, Leslie Howard, Rita B. Weary and Belencia Breaux. Adding musical glee was Renee Miller Dolliole, the featured soloist for Black Cat Productions, LLC, whose music infused the cotillion with decibel delights.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
