So does Nelson DeMille, even in absentia
“I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a night,” said Ralph Fumante, an Oyster Bay Cove trustee. He had a point. The Bahniks, Lori and Roger, brought together a group of like minded people to work for the good of Oyster Bay-East Norwich’s children at the gala at the Metropolitan Club in Glen Cove on Oct. 19. Once again it proved to be a delightful venue and a great place to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich.
They always have a surprise for guests; this year Lori Bahnik introduced Susan Lucci, who offered a copy of her new book All My Life and a lunch with the highest bidder. Ms. Lucci, star of the longtime running TV soap opera All My Children, and the one everyone loved to hate, said she wrote the book at the urging of her son Andreas.
Ms. Lucci said many people had asked her to write a book but she thought of herself as a “private celebrity.” When she asked his opinion he said, “Mom, you should write a book.”
“Why?” she asked, “I’ve never had a run-in with the law?” She saw her personal life as quiet and not making headlines in the press. .
Andreas said, “For one thing, all the girls I date want to know how you did it and how you do it.”
That was all she needed to sit down and tell her story that opens with her dad looking up at the stars and telling her, “the sky’s the limit.” He inspired her life with those words.
And she does have a story to tell about her famous career including her 21-year trip to claim her first Emmy, that she made a fun event for everyone. She mentioned her stint on Dancing With the Stars, and her Broadway debut with the help of Marvin Hamlisch; and the stars she has known including Regis Philbin and Sammy Davis, Jr. “I crossed paths with so many famous people,” she said.
The book has pictures from her family albums. As she said that, she added for the auction winner, “I’ll throw in a lunch for two and a picture with Susan,” herself. Ms. Lucci earned the children of Oyster Bay-East Norwich $3,600. Grace Haggerty, a benefit committee member, was the winner.
Nelson DeMille is a regular at the Boys & Girls Club galas, but he couldn’t attend. Instead he sent a video that was shown on a giant screen where he said, “Lori, have a fun night and I’ll see you next year.” In absentia he raised money for the club.
Lori said, although had he tired of using a name for a character in his books to benefit a cause, “He made an exception for us. I was a character in a bestseller. I was the girlfriend of Harry the detective but they killed him.”
The naming-spot in the next book by Nelson DeMille went for $3,600 to Scott Kalish.
Mr. DeMille also sent four copies of his new book Panther as well as a first edition that was in the silent auction.
(More photographs of the event will be in an upcoming issue of the Enterprise Pilot.)
