Heart of San Diego gala thanks locals for medical advancements

The Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine was the scene of the 10th Annual Heart of San Diego gala recently -- and the black-tie affair was all heart.

La Jolla’s own Peter Farrell was honored with the coveted Heart of San Diego Award for his “entrepeneurship and passion for advancing healthcare with regard to sleep-disordered breathing and its relation to cardiovascular disease” ,among his many contributions to a grateful San Diego community.

The dinner and live auction event was a benefit for the Cardiovascular Research, Clinical Programs and the new building at UCSD. About 500 patrons attended, and more than $550,000 was raised to support the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center. Credit longtime co-chairs Zandra Rhodes and Salah Hassanein and their huge, hard-working committee for the success of this elegant evening.

Among the locals on the honorary committee were Arthur Brody, Valerie and Harry Cooper, Audrey Geisel, Ron and Sook Hansen, Maurice and Charmaine Kaplan, Jay and Lael Kovtun, the Lipinsky family, Duane and Renee Roth, Sam and Hermeen Scharaga, Jack and Judy White, Fiona Tudor, Ken and Dixie Unruh. Esther Jane Paul, Drew and Noni Senyei, Sami and Sharon Ladeki, and John and Sally Thornton.

The large La Jolla guest list also included Ina and Rusti Bartell, Stuart and Lisa Lipton, Alex Butterfield, Derrick and Lauren Cartwright, Patti and Coop Cooprider, Jake and Todd Figi, UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox (who introduced Farrell when he accepted his award), Ron and Sue Heller, Sam and Reena Horowitz, Irwin and Joan Jacobs and Wanda Kaufman.