Honoring KOCE’s contributions

Its slogan is “Expand your mind.”

KOCE-TV has been providing programming to Orange County since

1972. Last week at the Four Seasons Hotel, Newport Beach, a

distinguished crowd of some 500 citizens came together to pay tribute

to 30 years of community service provided by KOCE, our local

alternative to commercial television.

The gala fund-raiser was a classy affair from start to finish. It

could be nothing less than outstanding under the stewardship of chair

Gloria Gae Gellman. She is a perfectionist who managed the minutia

and the grand strokes of the party, creating a ball that had warmth

and style.

The success of the affair is also due in large part to

participants including Mel Rogers, president of KOCE. Rogers set the

tone for the evening with his eloquent remarks on the importance of

public television in Orange County and his own personal commitment to

the goals of the station, which is licensed to the Coast Community

College District.

“The health of KOCE-TV is important to me,” he said. “Somewhere

along the way, I have fallen in love with Orange County and I am

certain that without a viable television station, this county cannot

fulfill it’s destiny. Los Angeles ignores Orange County, while

KOCE-TV covers our community.”

He went on to quote a slogan he saw on a bumper sticker when he

first arrived in Orange County nearly a decade ago: “I’m not a native

... but I got here as soon as I could.”

The evening brought together many people who are vital forces in

this community. Part of the overall tone of support was created by

the presentation of awards to local leaders. Included in the honors

were educator Valerie Imhoff, attending and supporting the event with

her husband, Hans Imhoff; UCI Chancellor Ralph Cicerone, joining his

wife, Carol; and community leader Henry Segerstrom, sharing the

evening with bride Elizabeth.

With the help of Mary Roosevelt, one of Newport’s most vital

forces on the charity scene, movie star and social activist Ronda

Fleming graced the podium as the official presenter of the awards,

the “Aristeia,” taken from the ancient Greek “the essence of valor,

persistence and heart.” Fleming was poised and beautiful, as one

might expect from one of Hollywood’s “golden era” performers.

KOCE’s Ed Arnold and Ann Pulice guided the evening as masters of

ceremony. Distinguished guests included Bob Brown, chair of the KOCE

Foundation, and Newport’s indefatigable Mary Lyons, also known as

“the queen of the chorus” for her longtime leadership role with the

Pacific Choral.

“Public television brings out the best in all of us,” Lyons said,

joining her husband, Phil.

Additional support for KOCE came from the Richard Schmid family,

Norman Watson, Bill and Beverly Langston, Tom and Marilyn Nielsen,

and Sam and Pamela Goldstein, to name only a few.

Also in the crowd were Patricia and Richard Allen, Ellie and Mike

Gordon, Judy and Rex Jacobs, Jan and Ken Kaplan, Jan Landstrom, vice

chairman of the gala, Ray and Gloria Osbrink, Mike and Lauri

Mendenhall, David and Darrelyn Melilli, Madeline and Len Zuckerman,

Charlie and Pat Poss, Marcia Rogers, wife of Mel Rogers, and Irv

Gellman, husband of Gloria Gellman.

In the end, more than $150,000 was raised to benefit KOCE-TV. A

portion of the financial success is because of the generosity of

local citizens and merchants who provided for an impressive silent

auction.

As dinner was served by the Four Seasons staff, Art Deco and His

Society Orchestra provided music to entertain the crowd enjoying the

ballroom adorned in Greek-theme decor including the whimsical touch

of using live models posing as Greek statues among the flora. It was

all in keeping with the Aristeia theme.

“Life gives us opportunity,” honoree Ralph Cicerone said. “Take

it, and sometimes it develops into something far more than you could

have ever imagined. I believe that education enables us to take

advantage of life’s opportunities.

“Personally I was transformed by the gift of education,” he said.

And that is the mission of public television and KOCE. To educate,

to inform, and yes, even to entertain. Funds raised will go to the

KOCE Foundation, which is upgrading the television station to a

digital format as required by FCC regulations. The financial burden

is great, but with continued community support, the digital challenge

will be met.

To find out how you can support KOCE, please call (714) 895-5623.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.