Event Recap: French Heritage Society Kick Off Party for 2024 Fall Gala

On Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, French Heritage Society kicked off its busy gala season with festive cocktails hosted by FHS Board Member and former FHS Gala honoree Jean Shafiroff at her residence in New York City.

Remarks were given by Jean Shafiroff, as well as FHS Events Chair CeCe Black, and FHS Executive Director, Jennifer Herlein.

Guests were further delighted to see New York State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright present Jean and Martin Shafiroff and French Heritage Society with certificates of recognition from New York State for their contributions and service to preserving French architectural and cultural legacy both in the United States and France.

Esteemed guests included: FHS Board Members Jennifer Farrell, Rosann Gutman and Liz McDermott Barnes. Also attending: Pauline Argenson and James Demmert, Allison Baroness von Arnim, Susan and Jerry Baker, Bettina Bennett and Gordon Beck, Lee Black, Sharon Bush, Candace Bushnell, Talia Carner, Liliana Cavendish, Yann Coatanlem, Francine Crocker and Dirk Adams, Patricia Cossutta and Puly Rincon, Paul F. Danello and Virginia Loving Pope, Wendy and Robert Federman, Vincent Festa, Silvia Frieser, Elena Gibbs, Julia Haart, Rolf Heitmeyer, Sylvia Hemingway, Gabriella and Vincent Kristov, Stewart F. Lane, Margo Langenberg, John Lutri, Ruth Miller, Pamela Morgan, Deanna Passarelli, Lauren Day Roberts, Anna Rothschild, Michael Gregson Reinert-Sessions, Patricia and Thomas Shiah, Michael Spinks, Hank Stampfl and Todd Burnsed, Andrea Wernick, Preston Wilson, Pamala Wright, Nina Yacavino, among others.

Upcoming FHS celebrations include: Dinner at the Residence of the Ambassador of France to the United States Laurent Bili in Washington, D.C. on October 7th, Chairman’s Circle trip to the Côtes du Rhône October 17-23rd, New York Gala Dinner Dance on November 15th, Thanksgiving Dinner in Paris on November 26th, Palm Beach Gala Dinner on February 16th, 2025, and the Diner des Mécènes in Paris on May 20th, 2025.

French Heritage Society will host its annual Gala Dinner Dance at a private club in New York City on November 15th.

This year, the Celestial Ball will celebrate the historic reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral and recognize the role Americans – both philanthropists and artisans – played in its restoration. The festive event will have two very special Honored Guests: Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt, interior designer and steadfast champion of FHS and artisans who specialize in French decorative arts, and Hank Silver, the American carpenter who spent a year-and-a-half rebuilding the wooden roof framing of the cathedral’s nave.

This highly anticipated, black-tie affair will have music and dancing provided by the Bob Hardwick Sound.

Photos by: Jared Siskin/PMC

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