Los Angeles

Los Angeles Los Angeles

New Members Shelly Scott, Pattiann Brundige and Karen Ferkich with the Cadre

GRAND ASSEMBLAGE

The Los Angeles chapter celebrated its 2020 Grand Assemblage on February 8, 2020 at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, California. About forty members gathered to watch our ceremony as we inducted three new members, all Gentle Ladies. Long-time member Gentle Lady Bobbie Brundige brought her daughter Pattiann to the chapter as a Gentle Lady in her own right. Karen Ferkich, retired Vice President of Glendale College, came to us through Janet Hamilton. Both are members of Soroptimist International in Glendale. New Gentle Lady Shelly Scott and her husband Mark have joined us on several KOV occasions. Commander Jim Hamilton even persuaded the Scotts to host a Bastille Day celebration at their home in Bel Air one summer. Vive la France! We’re so happy to be welcoming these new, vibrant members to our chapter. After the Enthronement Ceremony, we chatted and sipped as hors d’oeuvres were passed. When we went into dinner, Oakmont’s Executive Chef Pierangelo Ramponi, shone, as he always does for us. Our first course was a colorful salad of red endive, Little Gem lettuce and burrata with fennel, citrus, and Marcona almonds in a sherry vinaigrette. Accompanying the salad perfectly was a Gold Rush Chardonnay. The second course was Glacier Patagonian sea bass, risotto Vernaccia with caviar lingotto and asparagus pencils, paired with a Pinot Noir, François Villard, St. Joseph, 2015. An intermezzo followed: a refreshing lemon sorbetto which gave us a little time to chat with our new members and other guests. The third course was polenta and short rib timbale served with baby winter vegetables and a delicious medley of mushrooms. Accompanying it perfectly was a Cabernet Sauvignon, Jamieson Ranch, Double Lariat.

Our dessert was a breathtaking chocolate pyramid with mixes berries, white chocolate and a crème anglaise served with biscotti. A special dessert calls for a special wine, and the Borgo Scopeto, Vin Santo del Chianti

Classico we enjoyed was the perfect choice.

Randy Witt, Jim Hamilton and Janet Hamilton

BY CATHIE SANDSTROM SMITH

Comm. Jim Hamilton Knights new Gentle Lady Shelly Scott

Two unrelated Scotts Beverley and Mark Michael Richmond, Master of Ceremonies

Bo & Randy Witt with daughter Sandy and her husband Matt

Master Historian Cathie Smith Master Scribe Susan Hunt

In Memoriam Neill Foster

Neill Foster, one of the founding members and a Commander of the Los Angeles Chapter for 39 years, died the day after his birthday, Friday, July 17, 2020. He was honored with a full military funeral at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

In addition to the military contingent, there were only ten attendees permitted to attend and included, among others, Mara Papatheodorou, Jim Berkeley, LA Chapter Commander Emeritus and the current Vice Commander of the chapter, Janet Hamilton as well as his niece, Kimberly Miller, who cared for him over the years and attended many of the Los Angeles Chapter’s events. She became a wonderful friend to us all. Kimberly’s husband and sons also attended. Neill served his country 30 year and one day in the Army and, in a strange coincidence for the same exact 30 years and one day with US Customs Department. Adding to the synchronicity, Neill was also retired the same 30 years and one day ending in his death. During retirement he did some work with his church, traveled the world and enjoyed good food and wine everywhere. Neill also served for many years on the KOV Grand Council and as our Grand Administrative Officer. We will miss him greatly. He was a force in the Los Angeles Chapter and a friend to all of KOV.