Through Her Eyes

Social scene doyenne

JOY VENTURINI BIANCHI

is ever the life of the party. But behind her signature glasses is a woman who has devoted her life—recently threatened by cancer— to caring for developmentally disabled people.

Here, a look behind the lenses of San Francisco’s best-dressed and most tireless philanthropist.

THROUGH HER

Bianchi is pictured wearing Dior in the penthouse at the Fairmont Hotel where, just weeks earlier, she hosted VIPs and longtime friends for vodka and caviar to celebrate her 75th birthday and the 60th anniversary of Helpers.

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EYES by leilani marie labong photograph by joe fletcher

in 2012, after months of experiencing what felt like “having a heart attack but several times a day,” joy venturini bianchi, the bespectacled grande dame of san francisco’s philanthropic circles and the longtime director of helpers, a local charity dedicated to the care of the developmentally disabled, was diagnosed with a rare stage iv cancer, which had spread to her stomach and colon. the doctors projected that she had two weeks 7 X 7. CO M

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LADY

THE

WEARS...

JAMES GALANOS, TALES OF THE CITY, AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER, 2011

YVES SAINT LAURENT DRESS AND BILL BLASS HAT, SF BALLET FASHION SHOW, 2013 TOM FORD, “THE ART OF BULGARI,” 2013

BALENCIAGA, “BALENCIAGA AND SPAIN,” DE YOUNG MUSUEM, 2011

CHADO RALPH RUCCI, BIANCHI’S 75TH BIRTHDAY GALA, 2013

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, A TIME TO DAZZLE EVENT, WILKES BASHFORD, 2010

BILL BLASS, AMFAR FALL GALA, 2010

VINTAGE GIVENCHY, SF BALLET’S CINDERELLA BALL, 2013

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CHADO RALPH RUCCI, SF BALLET OPENING NIGHT, 2012

(OPPOSITE) DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY; (THIS PAGE) COOPER CARRAS

CHADO RALPH RUCCI, SF BALLET OPENING NIGHT, 2013

to live. “After hearing that you’re going to die, never guess at Bianchi’s life behind the scenes. She blames her your whole body shakes and 50 million things go grim diagnosis on a decades-long addiction to diet soda—up through your mind,” says Bianchi. “Heaven, hell, to four cans of the corrosive elixir per day. Her oncologist— life, leaving life—it just goes on and on.”

Dr. Donald Abrams, a specialist at the UCSF Osher Center Even during the initial shock of the news, for Integrative Medicine—placed her on a strict no-sugar, Bianchi’s thoughts turned to the future of Helpers. no-dairy, no-red meat regimen. But it’s the treatment’s star Despite an ongoing search, Bianchi—who turned panacea that she believes is preventing a progression of the 75 on September 30, 2013— cancer: Every night at bedtime, Bianchi hadn’t yet chosen a successor to slips a grain of cannabis oil on her tongue, carry on the tradition of providing letting it dissolve as she drifts off to sleep. respectful and uplifting care for The patient reports that her eldest of two people with intellectual disabilidaughters, Lisa Oster, initially resisted the ties. (Helpers’ modus operandi is thought of her mother partaking of the similar to that of L’Arche, an intercontroversial herbal remedy, saying somenational organization founded by thing akin to “What’s next, cocaine?” one of Bianchi’s mentors, French Arguably, there is a miracle at work. humanitarian Jean Vanier.) “Don’t The two-week deadline has passed, many the developmentally disabled times over. Bianchi’s spirit seems newly also deserve a nurturing home revitalized. She speaks once again with VINTAGE EMILIO environment, just like us?” Bianunflappable authority. Throughout her life, PUCCI, HELPERS HOUSE OF chi asks. “Why shouldn’t they eat she has survived several taxing milestones: COUTURE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY, 2012 home-cooked meals instead of a bitter divorce (a subject upon which she cold cereal? Why can’t they have refuses to comment); a devastating tumble hobbies and even regular jobs? on a cobblestone street in London 25 years They can lead dignified, productive ago, for which she was hospitalized for 41 lives, too.” Needless to say, leading weeks and still wears braces around her the charge is not for the faint of heart. legs and back; the closing of Helpers’ three Six months of chemotherapy left group homes, which required disabled resiBianchi feeling, in her words, “three-quardents to relocate to new institutions (“I felt ters dead,” a mere shadow of her former nearly suicidal over it,” she recalls); and self—the spunky glamour-puss and “party cancer. “Joy would say, ‘I can’t die. I have girl” who was out on the town nearly every too much to do,’” says Bachecki. “I would night, dressed in all manner of couture, her tell her, ‘That inner drive is probably gonna trademark oversize Gucci glasses always the get you through it.’” finishing touch. At the brink of mortality, she Bianchi’s strong sense of benevoalleges that she saw the Angel of Death loilence stems from childhood, a happy one tering near her bed. by her own account. “I never knew prejuKnowing this, perhaps the unknown dice,” she says, recalling that her parents, author of a random (and now-nowhere-toSalvatore Ferragamo shoe designer Joseph be-found) Yelp review, criticizing Bianchi Venturini and his wife, Josephine, would for living the high life at the expense of her host small holiday gatherings for the Afriwards, may experience a moment of penican American school bus drivers who made tence for the harsh words. Helpers’ board sure their daughter traveled safely over president Peggy Bachecki, who started city streets each day. What’s more, Bianchi working as a secretary for the charity nearly remembers that her cats would wait for her ( TO P, BOT TO M) At Helpers House 50 years ago, recalls the incident: “Joy didn’t at the bus stop, perilously crossing Fillmore of Couture. ( MI DDL E ) This vintage understand how someone could say such photo was used on the invitation Street to do so, with the express purpose things. When she’s at parties, she’s always for Bianchi’s 75th birthday and of chaperoning her walk home. A tall tale? working the room, telling people about Maybe. Or perhaps just early evidence of Helpers’ 60th anniversary fete.

Helpers, trying to get them involved.” Anyher gravitational pull. one who’s ever attended a fete with Bianchi knows this is an Bianchi began volunteering at Helpers at its inception understatement. As soon as the you’re-so-chic praises begin in 1953. She had been drawn to the innocent struggle of the to chime, the businesswoman kicks into gear, passing out her developmentally disabled and decided to devote herself to card with a firm squeeze of the arm and strict instructions to being their staunch advocate. So in 2000, when the end drew come visit the Helpers House of Couture. nigh for the group homes—they had been open since the 1960s Seeing her in her element—out and about, radiant but lacked an appropriately dedicated house staff able to care in the origami folds of a Dior jacket that no one else for the residents—Bianchi, already in her early 60s, stepped could wear with quite the same moxie—you would into the role of full-time housemother, while she interviewed,

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“

e’re all the same.

When it comes time for us to meet God, there we are, stripped of everything.

Bingo.”

WITH ELTON JOHN AT HIS OSCAR PARTY, HOLLYWOOD, 2008

WITH HAMISH BOWLES AT “YVES SAINT LAURENT,” DE YOUNG MUSEUM, 2008

WITH MANOLO BLAHNIK AT NEIMAN MARCUS, 2004

WITH SEN. MARK LENO AT HELPERS HOLIDAY PARTY, GHIRARDELLI SQUARE, 2007

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WITH KEITH SCOTT, RICHEMONT BOUTIQUE DIRECTOR, NEW YORK CITY

WITH RALPH RUCCI AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, 2012

(OPPOSITE) TOP LEFT: GETTY IMAGES; COURTESY OF JOY BIANCHI; (THIS PAGE) COOPER CARRAS

WITH DEMII MOORE AT THE OPENING OF WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, 2013

WITH DITA VON TEESE AND JEAN PAUL GAULTIER AT THE WILDE SALOME PREMIERE, CASTRO THEATRE, 2012

she says, thousands of people for the job. A few made the cut, In October 2013, Bianchi feted only to later disappoint. Undoubtedly, the decision not to her 75th birthday and Helpers’ 60th medicate the residents, made by Bianchi and Helpers’ long- anniversary with a lavish event at time consulting psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony Stanton, made such the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill, with a job more difficult, as these medications tend to calm the emo- such deep-pocketed guests as Tony tions. “I was just running myself into the ground,” she says of Duquette protégé Hutton Wilkinson, her experience on the frontlines. But of course, she wouldn’t and Christine and Phil Bronstein. But have had it any other way. “When people are Bashford jokes that drugged, they can’t be themselves,” she says. the bars on Castro “These people thrive on human connection.

Street emptied for We want to build that, so they can find hapthe occasion—to piness in their true selves.” wit, the style icon Some might wonder whether Bianchi is a magnet for dotwould let the charity she loves suffer because ing gay men. (One she fancies herself irreplaceable—the hunt partygoer called for a successor worthy of the director’s chair Bianchi a “fag hag has, as yet, been fruitless. Bianchi’s friend extraordinaire”— of nearly 50 years, SF department store flattery that would magnate Wilkes Bashford, pooh-poohs this no doubt amuse notion: “The reality is that no one could do her.) The sprightly what Joy has done for the cause. No one is birthday girl (she irreplaceable. But Joy is close to it.” often signs her text Each day, Bianchi walks a half block messages “Joyous”) from her home to the Helpers House of Couwore a cherry-red ture on Fulton Street, where she curates an Ralph Rucci gown, a modern spin on a impressive inventory of donated high-end kimono that was as much an affirmation of designer duds. It’s the charity’s top level life as it was a fashion statement. of daily fundraising, followed by weekend That night, she delivered a lengthy, garage sales and the Bazaar at Ghirardelli politically savvy speech in classic it’s-mySquare, where Helpers has resided since party style. State Senator Mark Leno, who 1966 and enjoys a rent-free existence. (Bianvisited Bianchi on Sundays during the chi’s mother volunteered at the bazaar daily depths of her illness and was instrumental throughout the 1970s and ’80s.) All proceeds in securing her first appointment with Dr. are donated to such kindred organizations Abrams, says, “She spoke from the heart as SF’s Woodside Learning Center, Laguna and recognized everyone who had been Honda Hospital, and the Tacoma Hope Farm part of her success. If I had to ‘Monday and Gardens in Washington. morning quarterback’ the evening’s proDuring a recent visit to the couture gram, I wouldn’t change a thing.” house, Bianchi shows off her new arrivals: a A couple of weeks after the party, green sequined Pucci gown, an asymmetriBianchi traveled to Los Angeles for the cal Lanvin LBD, gold Tom Ford gladiator sanopening gala of the Wallis Annenberg dals, and Christian Louboutin over-the-knee Center for the Performing Arts, where Seann Girl boots, complete with cell phone she walked the red carpet in a full-length pocket and credit card slots. The last can be crystal-beaded Tom Ford gown (she ( TO P, BOT TO M) At Helpers House yours for the bargain price of $2,250 (retail: sported comfy athletic socks to make the of Couture. ( MI DDL E ) Always the $3,795). The appointment-only shop is a jaunt from her nearby hotel more bearlady, Bianchi is rarely without a hat and gloves. clever way for Bianchi to raise money while able but ditched them in a bush a block indulging her love of fashion, also evident away from the event). On her iPhone, she since childhood, when she’d don her Sunday best on any day pulls up a playful photo of her and Demi Moore wearing each of the week just to stand in the driveway and wave hello to other’s glasses at the party. “She said she loved my dress,” says passersby. To this day, she calls fashion a “celebration of life,” Bianchi, who undoubtedly used the compliment as a segue to diligently stripping off her braces and daytime orthopedic introduce the Brat Pack beauty to Helpers. shoes in favor of heels and costume baubles for her rounds Later in the night, when she met legendary actor and on the social circuit. Behind those great black-rimmed lenses, civil rights activist Sidney Poitier, she was genuinely humbled, her eyes sparkle with mischievous delight when she tells of her thoughts centering once again on the community she’s shocking local socialites with her wildly fashion-forward championed with her own brand of civil rights activism. “We’re choices. Who says a 70-something woman can’t wear an ani- all the same,” she says. “When it comes time for us to meet God, mal print or thigh-high boots? there we are, stripped of everything. Bingo.”

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