Palm Beach Illustrated October 2009

ILLUSTRATED

THE PALM BEACH

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INSIDE:

PALM BEACH WEDDINGS PREMIERE EDITION

20 THE PALM BEACH

MEET THIS YEAR’S MOST INTRIGUING PERSONALITIES

The Superstar TOMMY LEE JONES

Photographed by Gio Alma at the San Saba polo facility, Wellington Ask most people to tell you about Tommy Lee Jones and you’ll hear a litany of superlatives about his acting career. True: His roles in No Country For Old Men, Men in Black and In the Valley of Elah, among others, are nothing if not memorable. As are his accolades, including a Supporting Actor Oscar for The Fugitive and the Best Actor award at Cannes for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.

But in Wellington, where he resides and plays polo in the winter, his status as Hollywood superstar is eclipsed by his passion for the sport. Jones, the patron of the San Saba team, advances polo by teaching young people, from toddlers to teens, the rules and techniques. He also supports the polo team of his alma mater, Harvard University, and the Polo Training Foundation.

And let’s face it: His notoriety has not hurt attendance at Sunday polo matches.f 98

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The Couturier ARNOLD SCAASI Photographed by Vincent Ricardel at the Scaasi residence, Palm Beach Arnold Scaasi has an instinct for beauty. As a designer of couture gowns for some 50 years, he has dressed the world’s most elite and glamorous ladies, from society scions to screen sirens. His devotees read like a who’s who of Hollywood and Washington—Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbara Bush. Scaasi, who lives part time in Palm Beach with longtime partner Parker Ladd, still has the Midas touch—literally. He is capturing the fancy of style-savvy ladies with a new line of jewelry. At the behest of Home Shopping Network, he has recreated his iconic line of sparklers that were all the rage with midcentury fashionistas—and are as relevant today.

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The Crusaders BOB & SUZANNE WRIGHT Photographed by Gregory Ross at The Colony Hotel, Palm Beach Bob and Suzanne Wright have had an eventful year. The founders of Autism Speaks celebrated the very first World Autism Day here in Palm Beach, were honored by Time magazine on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and created Autism Speaks Middle East with the help of Sheikha Mozah, wife of the Emir of Qatar. While most people their age are enjoying retirement, Suzanne and Bob, who is the former president, chairman and CEO of NBC Universal, are busy advancing the mission of the organization they founded four years ago after their grandson was diagnosed with autism. In addition to working with President Obama to appoint an “autism czar,� they have met with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and will mark the second World Autism Day (April 2) with an event at 10 Downing Street. The Wrights are tireless in their efforts to find a cure for autism, which affects more than 35 million people worldwide.

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The Tastemaker SIMON DOONAN

Mannequin and accessories courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach

Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio When Simon Doonan signs on for a new project, he delivers with panache. This might explain his worldwide success. This past year, the fashion-obsessed Brit published his fourth tome, Eccentric Glamour, and rereleased his memoir, Nasty, in the United Kingdom under the name Beautiful People. The memoir was adapted into a TV series by the BBC Two network. His next book will feature anecdotes of his experiences as the creative director of Barneys New York, a post he has held for 23 years. Doonan, who winters in Palm Beach, made 2008 an even more memorable year by tying the knot with longtime partner Jonathan Adler and becoming a U.S. citizen.

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The Dream Girls TIMOLIN & CASEY COLE Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio A giving spirit and generous heart is one of the greatest gifts a parent can pass on to a child. It is those gifts that twins Timolin (left) and Casey Cole cherish the most about their father, legendary musician Nat King Cole. To keep that spirit alive, and perhaps to light the same spark in children, the sisters have founded Nat King Cole Generation Hope, which will provide musical instruments, seminars, recording equipment, mentoring programs and even sheet music to students in South Florida. The twins, who both live in Boca Raton with their families, work with local school districts to enhance their music programs.

Timolin says they hope to enrich the lives of school children through music education, as well as keep their father’s legacy alive through special programs that include lectures by artists who have been influenced by Cole’s groundbreaking career.

Microphone courtesy of Guitar Center, West Palm Beach

The Bag Gurus RICHARD LAMBERTSON AND JOHN TRUEX Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio Since launching the Lambertson Truex brand of luxury leather goods in 1998, John Truex (far right) and Richard Lambertson have been flying high, with a CFDA Accessory Designer of the Year award and an ACE award for Best New Accessories Designer. They’ve also been flying under the radar—in Palm Beach, anyway. Though they have had a condo here for the past three years, there have been few sightings around town. That’s because Palm Beach is where they come to relax (their other homes are in Sharon, Connecticut, and New York City), not network. Lambertson, who has an antique store in Connecticut, loves to go “Dixie diving,” while Truex, an equestrian, rides in Wellington. Their favorite local haunt: Palm Beach Grill.

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The Lifesaver MEHMET OZ, M.D. Photographed by Vincent Ricardel at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia, New York City Millions of people tune in to watch “America’s Doctor” Mehmet Oz give medical advice on The Oprah Winfrey Show, but now this part-time Palm Beacher is bringing his message to our own backyard. As the spokesperson for the Palm Healthcare Pavilion in West Palm Beach, Oz will help the Palm Healthcare Foundation raise awareness of the Pavilion’s programs, which bring together different specialists from the medical field, as well as people from the community, to integrate an approach to improve the quality of life for children with special health-care needs, such as obesity and diabetes. The effort will not only yield medical help, but also help develop lifestyle changes that will put kids on the road to a healthier life. The idea is to use this as a model for the rest of the country.

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The All-American DON KING Photographed by Robert Nelson at King’s office, Deerfield Beach Don King is the world’s most famous and successful boxing promoter, and has more than a dozen national and international awards to prove it. His larger-than-life personality (and hair!) also has a softer side. His Deerfield Beach-based foundation has raised millions for organizations such as NAACP, the United Negro College Fund and Simon Wiesenthal Center, and South Florida communities. King, a strong supporter of the armed forces, makes annual visits to U.S. military bases around the world. The Manalapan resident also hosts an annual holiday turkey giveaway in the area and elsewhere, traveling to many sites to distribute the food himself.

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The Filmmaker BRETT GOLOV | Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio Brett Golov always wanted to be an actor. Now, the co-owner of 11.Eleven Pictures has channeled those childhood dreams into a burgeoning film career. His first starring role is in Patsy, a dark comedy he also produced with partner Anton Jarvis. The film is currently making the rounds at film festivals, including, he hopes, the Palm Beach International Film Festival. The Boston native also manages Mister, the Worth Avenue boutique owned by his family, and writes screenplays. He is now developing a film about the life of Hollywood legend Peter Lorre.

The Children’s Advocate JULIE HEALEY Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio Julie Healey’s strength was tested when her daughter Daisy, now 10, was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2003. She witnessed the emotional and financial burden a child’s sickness causes families and decided to confront the issue. In 2004, she transformed the Healeys’ annual holiday party into a fundraiser and launched Be A Star Foundation, a nonprofit that has since raised nearly $3 million. The funds are distributed to the Pediatric Oncology Support Team and Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. President of the Child Life Institute board, Healey, with husband Richard and children Sophie, 13, Emma, 11, Harry, 7, Sarah, 5, and Daisy travel to England every summer to visit their families.

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The Iron Chef MASAHARU MORIMOTO Photographed by Gregory Ross at Morimoto Sushi Bar, Boca Raton Masaharu Morimoto became a cult hero to late-night watchers of the Food Network, cooking gourmet meals in one hour using the “secret ingredient” on the Japanese import Iron Chef. In real life, this reality TV star was head chef at Nobu in New York City, but was itching to go out on his own. He opened an eponymous restaurant in Philadelphia, and quickly gained a following. Since then, he has opened restaurants in New York, Tokyo and, most recently, the Morimoto Sushi Bar at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. He even was persuaded to participate in Iron Chef America. And yes, all those meals really have to be completed in exactly one hour. While he admits that is a lot of pressure, he is honored to be involved. “There are only four Iron Chefs in the world,” he says. “And I am one of them. And the only Iron Chef Japanese.”

Photo Illustration by Diana Ramírez

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The First Lady of Fashion LILLY PULITZER ROUSSEAU

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Photographed by Harry Benson at the Pulitzer residence, Palm Beach It’s hard to believe it has been 50 years since the young wife of newspaper scion Peter Pulitzer rolled out the colorful frocks that have since become the “uniform” of Palm Beach. Her iconic prints of monkeys, palm trees, shells and the like put Palm Beach on the fashion map as early as the 1960s, when First Lady (and former schoolmate) Jackie Kennedy wore a Lilly shift for a Life magazine photo shoot. Now the name Lilly Pulitzer is synonymous with resort wear. These days, Pulitzer Rousseau still acts as a sounding board for Sugartown, the company to which she sold the brand in 1993, and otherwise hangs out at the jungle paradise she calls home, entertaining friends and family in her usual spirited fashion.

The Wunderkind JENNIFER OZ LEROY Photographed by Gregory Ross at the LeRoy barn, Wellington Calling Jenny Oz LeRoy just a restaurateur is like calling the Mona Lisa just a painting. Not only does she oversee New York’s Tavern on the Green restaurant, which she inherited from her father, Warner, and its sister restaurant in Wellington, she is breaking ground this year on a 40,000-square-foot location in San Francisco. LeRoy also co-authored with her mother, Kay, the Tavern on the Green cookbook, which includes photos, stories and recipes from the fabled landmark. When she is not at one of her restaurants, she shows horses in the Wellington Equestrian Festival.

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The Phenom HUNTER JONES Photographed by Vincent Ricardel at Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter Every child dreams of becoming a professional athlete, and for a lucky few the dream comes true.

Count Hunter Jones among them. As the new Boston Red Sox pitcher, the Palm Beach Gardens native began spring training last month in Fort Myers with his new teammates. For Jones, there was never another career option. He was four years old when he joined his first Little League baseball team. While at Florida State University, he honed his craft on the pitcher’s mound.

Despite a left elbow injury in 2004, which required surgery, Jones was signed in 2005 by the Red Sox and spent the next seasons rising through the organization’s teams. This past November, he was added to the Major League roster and is definitely the player to watch.

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The Aficionado BERNARD KINSEY Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio Bernard Kinsey lives by two mantras: “To whom much is given, much is required,” and “A life of no regrets.” The former Xerox Corp. executive, who retired in 1991, devotes his time and efforts to his family, charity, and AfricanAmerican art and historical documents. Kinsey has raised more than $25 million for charitable and educational organizations in the past 25 years. The West Palm Beach native also is a strong advocate of learning and sharing black history. His art collection, which he started with wife Shirley, traces African-American culture in the last four centuries. Last year, the Kinseys created a traveling exhibition titled “In the Hands of African American Collectors,” which spent the summer at the Norton Museum and will continue to travel through 2010.

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The Rock Star TICO TORRES Photographed by Gregory Ross at the Torres residence, Palm Beach Gardens Even after churning out record after record as Bon Jovi’s drummer for the last two decades, Tico Torres is proof that it’s never too late for a second and third career. Unbeknownst to many, Torres is a self-taught painter whose versatile style is widely admired. He’ll open his first gallery in Aspen this year. Torres, who has a five-year-old son with wife Alejandra, also is a true believer in children and their future. His newly established Tico Torres Children Foundation hosts the Tico Torres Classic! and donates its proceeds to Be A Star Foundation. Torres’ Rock Star Baby, a Germany-based lifestyle company for kids, also donates a percentage of profits to his foundation.

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The Queen of Vintage TRACY SMITH Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio House of Lavande is every fashionista’s go-to store for vintage couture jewelry—not to mention the darling of top fashion editors. Lavande jewelry is represented in New York, London and Hong Kong stores, and in a flagship boutique in Palm Beach.

The brand’s stratospheric growth is proof of Tracy Smith’s talent and passion. Smith handpicks every item for her collection, meeting with private dealers and combing flea markets worldwide, and has created a collection of contemporary jewelry using vintage stones. Despite a full work schedule, she makes time for community endeavors, including Caron, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Society of the Four Arts and the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

The Multifaceted Entrepreneur REID BOREN | Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio Entrepreneur Reid Boren has more facets than a brilliant-cut diamond. The managing partner of Magellan Mortgage Group also a general partner of the Parisian bistro Pistache in downtown West Palm Beach (Boren’s personal recommendation: the snapper Provençal). But he is equally passionate about his avocations. Boren has been on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County for 10 years, and plans the organization’s wildly popular Barefoot on the Beach. He also sits on the board of S.T.O.K.E.D., a nonprofit that helps youth stay substancefree. When it’s time to relax, Boren, a self-professed outdoorsman, heads to Louisville, Kentucky, to attend races at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, enjoys an early morning at Okeechobee’s Pine Creek Sporting Club, or takes to the sky flying a single-engine plane.

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The Humanitarian GISELLE MEZA Photographed by Gregory Ross at Morikami Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach Giselle Meza led a glamorous life traveling the world as a model for 17 years. But no matter where she was on assignment, she always reached out to local women, learning about their culture. In 2001 Meza left for Nepal and India, where she spent several years volunteering with missionaries and learning about the impact of human trafficking. She returned in 2007 and launched Boca Raton-based Puresa Organics, which raises awareness about injustices through the sale of fashionable organic bags. The company partners with Project Rescue Nepal, and employs women rescued from slavery in a fairtrade working environment to make bags that carry their message of hope and life.

The Voice of Charity BENJAMIN MACFARLAND III Photographed by Robert Nelson in studio Benjamin Macfarland is a philanthropist at heart. The real estate broker serves on boards and fundraising committees for Gentlemen of the Garden, March of Dimes, Whitehall Society and the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

His passion for philanthropy comes from recognizing the work of men like Henry Flagler and the community’s need for gem properties like the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens and Whitehall. Early this year, Macfarland launched palmbeachphilanthropy.org, an outlet for local charities and a place to learn about successful organizations. The site also disseminates podcasts of CEOs, volunteers and donors of nonprofits sharing their stories and offering advice.

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