There is no room in New Haven that is more elegant than the ballroom of the Quinnipiack Club. The “traditions” of excellence that were originally established have continued since 1871; fortunately, other historic and exclusionary policies were abolished and the institution has become a warm and welcoming mecca for community festivities. Monday night, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce board, staff and committee volunteers along with the Leadership Greater New Haven Advisory Board and the current class members were all guests of the Q.
And what great hosts! The food stations were supplemented by attentive waitstaff with additional trays of goodies. No name tags were necessary for this crowd — everybody knows their names. The only surprise was that their professional and volunteer careers permitted the time to celebrate their efforts and the season. Brooks Bradbury, the club manager, was incredibly gracious to the group.
The Who’s Who included Dick Simione (Chamber board chair and founding partner of Simione, Macca and Larrow), Hospital of St. Raphael CEO David Benfer and V.P. John Kessler (also chair of LGNH). His lovely wife, Mary, exec of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was also there. Other members of the Chamber board, wearing multiple other nonprofit hats, were Susan Bryson, Hugh Manke, John Hogan, Rich Guralnick, Roger Hess, Cornell Wright, Marvin Miller, Bob Santy, George Clarke and Lynn Kornita. Shelly Saczynski, both a Chamber board member and LGNH advisory board member, was joined by Lee Cruz, Louise Endel, Rich Evans, Lindy Gold, Doug Marsh, and Pat Sweet — all from the advisory board and countless other boards.
Larry and Mary Lou DeNardis were “home for the holidays”; SCSU President Cheryl Norton, AEP’s Nick Lavorato (newly elected to the Branford Town Council and president of the New Haven Education Fund), and Roger Harrison (former first selectman of
Woodbridge, now with the Regional Council of Governments) were among the mentors for Chris Cavallaro (financial services) and attorney Kevin Diadamo, members of the current class of LGNH. 
Ann Worcester (Pilot Pen) and Steve Paganelli (the new regional tourism director), and David Blitz (Senior V.P. at Banknorth) were in fine spirits.
This party had no inane chatter. It was probably the most interesting crowd that has ever graced a room. Tony Rescigno, beloved by all, gave the adoring crowd all the more reason to applaud — instead of handing out trinkets, the Chamber made a generous donation to the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen in honor of the assembled guests — a gift with meaning to us all. David Benfer decided that the group should return the compliment and “passed the hat” so that everyone might donate in D.E.S.K. in honor of their good work and that of the Chamber staff. Accepting on behalf of the organization were David O’Sullivan and the ageless and indomitable Lucille Alderman, philanthropist, volunteer and member of that board and many more.
If there are perks for those who work for the Greater Good, the evening certainly was one of them.