Legendary Developer Opens Up His Spectacular Aspen Home for Houston Hospital: Partying on the River Banks for a Good Cause

What: The University of Texas M.D Anderson Cancer Center‘s 20th annual “Making Cancer History” doubleheader

Where: Aspen, Colorado

PC moment: The friend-raising event began with a morning program at Paepcke Auditorium where many among the 170 attendees were introduced to the cancer center’s relatively new president Dr. Peter WT Pisters, who took up the reins of M.D. Anderson in December. Participating in the informative program on cancer research were Dr. John Heymach, Dr. Erich Sturgis and Dr. Wenli Liu.

The day began with an al fresco, gentle yoga activity led by  Smitha Mallaiah, a mind-body intervention specialist in M.D. Anderson’s Department of Integrative Medicine.

Highlight for many vacationing in  Aspen was the second act of the day — the annual cocktail party hosted by  Barbara and Gerald Hines in their stellar home (designed by renowned architect Charles Moore) on the banks of the Roaring Fork River.

Proceeds from ticket sales and auction of Barbara Hines’ “Cougar Pink and Gold,” an original silkscreen and oil on linen painting brought in $80,000 for cancer research and patient care.

As is tradition the Hines’ late afternoon fête followed a decorative theme, this year “La Vie en Rose.” That meant a party tent dressed in pinks ad pastels, carried out in linens, florals, colorful macarons and massive urns filled with cherry blossoms.

Aspen/M.D. Anderson devotees: Dr. Katherine Pisters, Kelli and Eddy Blanton, Judy Ley Allen, Alex Dell, Judy and Rodney Margolis, Denise Monteleone, Ellie Camberg, Estela and David Cockrell, Martha and Nicholas DiMeglio, Claire Cormier-Thielke and Rick Thielke, Ellie and Michael Francisco, Anne and Alan Feld, Dr. Veronica Selinko-Curran and Mike Curran, and Peggy and Carl Sewell.