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PALM
BEACH, Fla. (December 9, 2009) The Historical Society of
Palm Beach County honored London and Broadway stage and
television actress, recording star, executive producer,
philanthropist and visual artist
Dame Celia Lipton Farris at the Society’s 8th Annual
Archival Evening at Club Colette, Palm Beach.
Honorary Chair for the intimate dinner-dance themed “Dame
Celia Lipton Farris – An Incredible Life” was Kathy Bleznak.
Chairmen of the evening were Diana Ecclestone, Tom Quick,
Patrick Park and Mark Stevens. Corporate Chair was Jeff
Bateman. Throughout the evening, guests were able to preview
an exhibition of Dame Celia’s professional and philanthropic
awards, and a collection of photographs, records, and
personal memorabilia from the Historical Society’s archives.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland and raised in London, Celia
Lipton was performing in leading roles on the London stage
in her teens. As a patriot of her country she performed for
tens of thousands of service men and women on battleships,
in RAF hangars, hospitals, every Red Cross Club in London,
the USO and at the Royal Albert Hall. Celia Lipton was a
household name throughout the United Kingdom. She acted and
sang in leading roles on BBC Radio in productions such as
“Babes in Arms,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Strike Up The
Band” and played the London Palladium doing her own one
woman show at the age of 16, and later played the lead role
in the BBC radio production of “Showboat.”
While enjoying a successful career starring on Broadway and
in television, Celia Lipton met, fell in love with and
married the acclaimed industrialist and inventor, Victor
Farris. After 29 years of marriage and following her
husband’s passing, in tribute to his great work as
industrialist, inventor and philanthropist and a testament
to her great vision, generosity and dedication to her
community she erected the Victor W. Farris Medical Building
that sits in West Palm Beach, Florida on the campus of Good
Samaritan Hospital. In addition, she returned to show
business working on a number of projects which included what
Dame Celia proclaimed as one of the most “memorable events”
of her life – she was invited to London, England to perform
in Hyde Park at the VE Day Celebration. There she sang
before approximately one million people, Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II and the entire British Royal Family. She would
later receive the title of “Dame Of A Most Venerable Order
of St John,” which was bestowed upon her by Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II, an honor that is in the Personal Gift of
the Sovereign. Dame Celia’s career as a stage, screen and
television actress and singer is highlighted in a permanent
display in the Theatre Hall of Fame at the famed Gershwin
Theatre in New York City. Dame Celia was inducted in to the
Theatre Hall of Fame with the great stage and film actor
Nathan Lane in the early spring of 2009.
Dame Celia has donated and raised tens of millions of
dollars for such worthwhile organizations as the American
Cancer Society, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army,
Children’s Home Society of Florida, United Way – Community
Chest, Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, the Historical
Society of Palm Beach County, International Centre for
Missing and Exploited Children, Dana Farber Cancer
Institute, Palm Beach County School of the Arts, Boy’s and
Girl’s Clubs and the American Heart Association.
The Palm
Beach Chamber of Commerce honored Dame Celia Lipton Farris
three times with their outstanding citizen award and with
the “One and Only” award. She was twice been honored with
the Gloria Swanson Humanitarian Award.
Dame Celia served as Honorary International
Chairwoman for the International Red Cross Ball in Palm
Beach. She had for a number of years volunteered for the
Red Cross during her stage, film and recording career
performing for troops in the UK. During her tenure as
Honorary International Chairwoman, the organization
presented her with its highest honor for volunteer service,
the Clara Barton Award. For a number of years Dame Celia
served as the Honorary Chairwoman of the Children Home
Society “Ultimate Dinner Party.” She served as Honorary
Chairwoman and Chairwoman Emeritus of the American Cancer
Society – Town of Palm Beach Ball for over 15 years.
The American Cancer Society established the Dame Celia
Lipton Farris Lifetime Achievement Award; a national award
created in honor of their distinguished and valued friend
and patron Dame Celia Lipton Farris. Dame Farris has
supported the organization for three decades.
Dame
Celia underwrote an extraordinary permanent exhibit for the
Historical Society of Palm Beach County entitled the
“Notables” exhibit. The exhibit features 200 of the most
Notable individuals and families who have added to the
history of Palm Beach County over the past 125 years. The
interactive exhibit also contains personal items that Dame
Celia donated to the Society.
The
Archival Evening featured a special surprise performance by
Palm Beach Atlantic University’s theatre students of
“There’s Nothing Like a Dame,” with customized lyrics
written specifically for Dame Celia, wowed guests and
delighted the beloved lady of honor, who also received a
beautiful Tiffany & Co award presented by the Historical
Society. Tributes were given by Honorary Chairman Kathy
Bleznak, Chairmen Mark Stevens and Diana Ecclestone, and a
very special British salute of “Hip Hip Hooray” led by Sir
Geoffrey Leigh which nearly brought the house down. “Oh my
goodness,” exclaimed a visibly moved Dame Celia, “this is
really quite a night for me and my family.” After brief
remarks thanking guests and encouraging support of the
Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Dame Celia added
“remember, what people forget they may live to regret.”
On hand
to honor Dame Celia were family members Victoria “CeCe”
Farris, Marian & Jamie Retterer, and Brett Hagey, with more
than 150 guests including Sydelle Meyer, Liz & Jeff Bateman,
Michele & Howard Kessler, Kathy & Alan Bleznak, Tiffany &
George Cloutier, Nancy & Jeff Smith, Susan & Dominick
Telesco, Tom Quick, Sonja Abramson & Mark Stevens, Laura
Andrassy, Dr. Simon Small, Jennifer Garrigues, Diana & Llwyd
Ecclestone, Hilary & Wilbur Ross, Nathalie Fernandez de La
Valle & Patrick Park, Mac & Jamie Zahringer, Ross Meltzer,
Michelle & Craig Millard, Veronica Atkins Mersentes & Alexis
Mersentes, Carol & Tom Kirchhoff, Mark Elhilow, Kristy &
Grier Pressly, Maria & David Hamilton, Betsy & Wally Turner,
Paula & Mark Cook, Brantley & Peter Knowles, Herme de Wyman
Miro, Catherine & Walter Ross, Patty & Anthony Myura,
Luciana & Joe Vittoria, Helen Abel, Vicki & Chris Kellog,
Nancy Corzine, Gladys Benenson, Kenn Karakul, Talbot Maxey,
Kate Gubelman, Margo & Ashton de Peyster, Lulu & Jamie
Gordon, Arnold Scaasi, Parker Ladd, Ellen & Irwin Levy, Sir
Geoffrey & Lady Leigh, Dorothy Lappin, Cindy & Ted Mandes,
Jane & Gordon Brown, Linda & Guy Ashley, Ava & Barclay
Coleman, Gina & Jeff Sabean and Nancy & William Rollnick.
The
Historical Society’s annual Archival Evening honors the
contributions of notable individuals whose accomplishments
and influence have helped to define the history of Palm
Beach. Previous honorees include architect John Volk, social
photographer Slim Aarons, “The Late Great Grande Dames,”
including Barton Gubelmann, Estee Lauder, Marjorie
Merriweather Post, Mary Sanford, and Sue Whitmore, style
icon Lilly Pulitzer, architect Maurice Fatio, fashion
designer Philip Hulitar, and society family photographer
Betty Kuhner. The Grand Corporate Sponsor of the Archival
Evening is PNC Foundation and Corporate Sponsor is Tiffany &
Co.
For more information about the Historical Society or
Archival Evening, please call
(561) 832-4164, ext 103 or visit:
www.historicalsocietypbc.org
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