' var settings = cookieSettings[cookieName]; UCSF Medical Center has named Diane "Dede" Wilsey to lead the philanthropic effort on behalf of UCSF Medical Center's new state-of-the art clinical facility planned for construction at Mission Bay. pagetype = document.querySelector('meta[property="og:type"]').getAttribute("content"), But hating Dede Wilsey, a San Francisco socialite and philanthropist, is the most enjoyable part of a memoir that is at once an effective coming-of-age tale, a touching love letter to aging parents, and a comic romp through . Hes an Australian. I dont go to social partiesmost of the stuff I do is work., Her critics might scoff at her way of thinking, but Wilsey, spoken like a real powerhouse, doesnt give a damn. Festival Napa Valley is a music, food, wine and lifestyle festival held in Napa Valley, California. "Yes, it's set in San Francisco, and those of us who've lived here a long time know many of the characters and wonder how they'll feel about different parts of the book, but it's a universal story," said Elaine Petrocelli, co- owner of Book Passage in Corte Madera. Times have changed since Buchanan was the ambassador and this is apparent in the security team that accompanies Traina and his family everywhere in Austria. prefix = 'artnet_newsletter_'; Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. . Contributing to the causes she believes in is her job and one that she takes very seriously. He writes that Dede Traina was his mother's best friend and suggests his father had been involved with her romantically for some time before his breakup with Montandon. Which works or artists are you hoping to add to your collection this year? It was great because hes now the ambassador and my father was ambassador to Austria, also. } She married John Traina after his divorce from Dede. TaxID#26-4008029. // =================================================================== A writer and filmmaker (Golden Globe for, By Alexis Traina. Unless you're Sean Wilsey, who wrote a book and is bringing it all out into the open. You learn all about what that art is and that artist. But ultimately, Wilsey made his peace with Montandon; he dedicates the book to her. } She claims the long, unpaved, tree-lined driveway as being her favorite spot on the property. var cookieNames = ['recentlyShown', 'signedUp', 'closedSignupBar','signup_cookie']; Todd Traina is a film producer. email: /^([a-zA-Z0-9_\.\-])+\@(([a-zA-Z0-9\-])+\. + '<\/div>' Theres nothing I love more than sitting in the passenger seat with him driving, going nowhere fast. Its unpleasant. On Thursday we open the Al Thani jewel collection, which is magnificent., Wilsey also sits on the boards of the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Balletboth causes that she champions and supports. 2023 Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Napa Valleys flagship festival presents international stars and emerging talent in free and affordable concerts in iconic venues, and to audiences virtually worldwide. His own parents bought the land around 1969 from the Rainier Brewing Company. What work do you wish you had bought when you had the chance? Wilseys pride, admiration, and love for her family are evident and strong. There was a sham wedding to trial lawyer Melvin Belli (who'd represented Jack Ruby) in a Shinto ceremony in Japan that was annulled after 36 days; Montandon wanted the marriage to be official, but Belli refused to have it legally recorded. checkCookies(); I kept looking around and finally I thought, maybe if I buy a happy painting, Ill feel better. } She and Wilsey were fixtures on the social axes of San Francisco and Napa Valley, where they maintained a country house. She remains a prominent figure in the artistic and cultural spheres of San Francisco, spearheading the rebuilding of the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, as well as the establishment of numerous trusts for organizations such as the San Francisco Ballet. }); Neil Became a Teachers Assistant for these classes and about 5 years ago started to teach the classes himself. Festival Napa Valley is presented by Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring the arts to all through world-class performances and inspiring arts education programs. On October 10, she emailed us an .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}update after evacuating from Yountville, and this week, she sent us news that she and a number of local winemakers, chefs, and other concerned citizens (including many profiled in this story) have partnered with Tipping Point to form Napa & Sonoma Relief, a fund that will provide support to those most impacted by the fires. slideInModal('Down'); All Rights Reserved.var w = Math.max(document.documentElement.clientWidth, window.innerWidth || 0), At the forefront of this cultural dimension is Nimbus Arts!, Nimbus continues to be an amazing gift to this community and we are forever grateful to the entire team for your creativity, genius, dedication and commitment., Trevor & Kelly Foster, Nimbus Arts Leadership Circle and Supporter, Art is a powerful healer! script.src = "https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.1.1.min.js"; Stepfather to Todd and Trevor Traina. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. st.helena, ca 94574 It is so much fun to have that deja vu, Wilsey says. Her father was against the marriage. I founded Nimbus Arts to bring art to more people. Right now we have Muslim fashions, we just closed Truth and Beauty, which was Pre-Raphaelite Art. While Wilsey is not the kind of household name that will automatically make his story a blockbuster, Penguin Press appears to be counting on Wilsey's story to have more than Bay Area appeal. Needless to say, we were immediately smitten. Carolyne Zinko, a native of Wisconsin, joined The San Francisco Chronicle in 1993 as a news reporter covering Peninsula crime, city government and political races. + '' I look at this picture all the time. }, Stepmother of Sean Wilsey. Julie Baumgardner, By WWD Staff. head.appendChild(link); Once you really understand that you can make a difference, I think thats the bottom line of all philanthropy. . if (!$modal.length) { Wilsey's family got a direct thanks from the Trump administration for their past support . $form.find('.errors').children().hide(); Its a really amazing thing to do, to stroll on a warm night with a glass of wine.In a place like this, it certainly is. Her profiles of personalities have included fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Emanuel Ungaro fashion house owner Asim Abdullah, to name a few. We are bound to one another by the kind of esprit de corps that comes with the pursuit of magicmagic in the vineyards, on the table, at the drawing board. "I love that quality in anybody because I think you have to be brave to tell the truth in life," Montandon said. // ------------------------------------------------------------------- setTimeout(function() { Penguin Press has already devoted considerable energy to a pre-publicity tour with independent booksellers, which are generally intended to garner favorable word of mouth that can build and propel a book to higher visibility in chain stores across the country. My sisters and I each found our creative passions early in life. "What's impressive is the degree to which he acknowledges the good and the bad in both sets of parents," Maupin said. } The author's feelings toward his stepmother careen wildly from veneration to venom: He adored her until he was sent off to boarding school and then several reform schools. It is a nurturing environment where I feel comfortable at work with my new creations and benefit being surrounded by such talented people and their positive energy. There was a very nice dealer who we knew in London. if (typeof ouibounce !== 'undefined') { What were we going to do with the art if we didnt [rebuild it]? if (window.jQuery) { Also, theres no middle class in San Francisco. if ($modal.hasClass('slideInDown')) return; document.body.appendChild(script); $('body').append(ouibounceScript); function setCookie(cname, cvalue, expMinutes, prefix) { As a child I knew I wanted to do what my grandfather [Robert] and father [Tim] did. I actually really love it, but it is just not very practical. signedUp: { Romance novelist. She also is featured prominently in her stepson Sean Wilsey's memoir Oh the Glory of it All in which the author describes her as his "evil stepmother". c = c.substring(1); After about 10 years, I wasnt sad anymore and I had lot of paintings. She is the chairman emeritus of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Picking up where Robert Mondavi left off, the Harlan family has completely rewritten the playbook of American wine. I dont go to lunch with people or ladies Well, really any lunch. Financial support from Ann and Gordon Getty, Tatiana and Gerret Copeland, Peter T. Paul, Athena and Timothy Blackburn, Maria Manetti Shrem, Dede Wilsey, John Traina, and Robert and Margrit Mondavi, among others in addition to the generous support of numerous individuals, partner wineries, resorts and hotels, and local businesses helped launch what is now one of the countrys top summer festivals. Since then, the Trainas have made plenty of their own memories at the estate. I am thankful for what Nimbus Arts has done for the community and look forward to continue working with them to increase access to art for all of Napa Countys residents and visitors., Diane Dillon, Supervisor, District 3, County of Napa, Everyone at Nimbus is friendly, accommodating and supportive. There is an energetic, youthfulness to Wilsey and when she speaks, her tone is both excited and astute. + ' @media (max-width: 767px){ .close-signup {top:0 !important;} }' if (prefix == undefined) { Since then, Dede has built a formidable collection of Impressionist art . Another thing she loves about the museums? The Interview: The Joy of Generosity. Wilsey is the mother of film producer Todd Traina and Trevor Traina. Please join me in supporting Nimbus., Nimbus Arts Montandon was awarded $20,000 a month, which she said was too little to maintain the lifestyle to which she'd become accustomed. She is a grandmother on the loose, with good taste. expiration_minutes: 5 By continuing to use our sites and applications, you agree to our use of cookies. Really. A naturally gracious hostess, Wilsey has an uncanny ability to make anyone feel comfortable. In San Francisco, its unapologetic old-world glamour; in Oakville, its the perfect combo of chintz and prints, totally comfortable without ever sacrificing style.. 649 Main Street . Photographed & Styled By Claiborne Swanson Frank, The Parisian Hotel Where Joyce Finished Ulysses, From Town & Country for Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. She recounts a recent party for museum directors that took place in the de Youngs tower on one of those rare San Francisco nights where there was no fog: It was so beautiful. function appendNewsletterSignup() { var ouibounceScript = '