By Dave Donnelly
Thursday, January 2, 1997
Jim Winpenny, Rod McPhee
Jim Winpenny, Rod McPhee
THE first item of 1997 is actually about what was nearly the final item of 1996 insofar as adman Jim Winpenny is concerned. This is the first opportunity I've had to relate to you the Christmas "miracle" that Winpenny encountered while dining at Hy's Steak House. While chewing on prime rib, Winpenny suddenly found a piece of meat lodged in his throat and couldn't get it out. Wife Mary was certain he was having a heart attack and that it was going to be fatal. But a diner at a nearby table recognized the symptoms and administered a Heimlich maneuver on Winpenny, dislodging the morsel of meat and saving his life. This was Christmas night, mind you, the same night that the perennial "good time" movie starring Jimmy Stewart, "It's a Wonderful Life," was being screened on this, its 50th anniversary. You'll forgive Winpenny if that film is now his all-time favorite. You see, the man who gave him the Heimlich and saved his life was named George Bailey. That's also the name of the Jimmy Stewart character who found himself on the side of angels in the film because of his good works. And if there's a halo over Hawaiian Electric Co. in Winpenny's eyes, it's because that is where the local George Bailey works. "It's a Wonderful Life" all right - just ask Winpenny. "You Light Up My Life" just might become his favorite song in '97 ... ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ redux
IF you're not bowled out, bowled over or just over-bowled, there's still one more today. The Sugar Bowl featuring Florida and Florida State airs at 3 p.m. today and wonder of wonders, it's going to be aired live on KITV. The final bowl game used to be the Orange Bowl and, with its endless half-time show, it seemed to go on forever. Presumably the Sugar Bowl folks won't impose that same fate on us. So it appears that 1997, from a football standpoint at least, is off to a good start ...
WHEN asked where I was headed the other night, I mentioned a party at the Hawaii Loa Ridge estate of April and Al Masini. Who's he, a friend asked? He's the man who created "Livestock of the Rich and Famous," I replied, coming out with my last Freudian slip of '96. It was "LifeStyles of the Rich and Famous," of course - all those Christmas lambs and reindeer must have thrown me off - and the Masinis certainly live the life. One enters through a marble-laden foyer and never have I seen such attention to spare-the-expenses detail. It beggars even the Goldman Estate in Portlock at its peak when Alfred and Monte Goldman were entertaining lavishly ... Livestock?
IF adman Marty Schiller and wife Janet didn't have the most outstanding piano player entertaining at a holiday party this year, I'd like to know who did! She was Janet's mom, Ethel Senese of L.A., who admits to 86 years - a couple more and she'll have the entire keyboard. This charming lady with the facile fingers allowed that she enjoyed playing so much she comes over each year to do so for the Schillers ... Also at the Schiller party, Gene Axelrod and his longtime companion Jeannie announced they're planning a trip Down Under. Among other things, they're going to Lake Taupo in New Zealand to help car magnate Tony Shelly celebrate his 60th. Shelly should invite Janet's pianist/mom to his party - living proof that one needn't get "old" ...
RETIRED Punahou honcho Rod McPhee and wife Sharon were also at the Schiller party, and were amazed to find themselves standing face to face with new Ameron CEO Bob Wilkinson and wife Jean. The McPhees and Wilkinsons were fast friends back in Illinois 40 years ago and hadn't seen each other since. Yes, they recognized each other instantly ... Instead of going out New Year's Eve, something I've never been crazy about, I stayed home with a friend for a quiet dinner and a relaxing lanai-side look at the fireworks display, noise, traffic jams, sirens, drizzle, smoke and other year-end elements that reaffirmed the idea that staying at home has its excellent features ... Friends
