+ '<\/div>' Dec 12, 2022, By Many a woman shudders at the terrible eclipse of those intellectual powers which in early life seemed prophetic of usefulness and happiness, hence the army of martyrs among our married and unmarried women who, not having cultivated a taste for science, art or literature, form a corps of nervous patients who make fortunes for agreeable physicians Sarah M. Grimke (17921873). As Herb Caen used to say, 'There's nothing older than yesterday's news.' 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. They married in 1969. The new Mission Bay hospital complex will include: a 183-bed UCSF Children's Hospital to replace inpatient . San Francisco's high-society types are accustomed to life in the spotlight, but a new tell-all memoir is about to put them under the microscope as never before. In recent years, Wilsey has become one of the top tier socialites in San Francisco and the unstoppable force behind the construction of the new de Young Museum, which one wag in town has taken to calling the "Dede Young.". o[this.name] = [o[this.name]]; var cookieSettings = { Please log off from any other devices, and then reload this page continue. At Nimbus Arts, Neil teaches a myriad of dynamic and very popular blade smithing classes. Website design by Compass Marketing, websitedevelopmentbyStoryWorkz. But though they threatened to give up on him, his mother, Montandon, and his father continued to support him financially, ever trying to find a new school that would set him straight. } else { He recounts how he repeatedly promised his parents he would behave and stay out of trouble -- and repeatedly broke those promises. } setTimeout(function() { o[this.name] = this.value || ''; Formerly married to John Traina, who went on to marry Danielle Steel after Dede Wilsey married Al. I now have an entire bathroom, dressing room, bedroom at my house in Napa covered in these paintingsjust wall to wall. Another aspect of her charm? Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta, Room Request: Four Seasons Hotel Bogota Casa Medina, New Restaurants and Bars in New York City, Clare V., Mulberry and More New Retail Openings in NYC, Our Favorite New Tech Gadgets and Devices Right Now, Carbone Opens in The Dallas Design District, Stylish New Reads From Louis Vuitton and YSL, Get behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram. I dont know. You are currently logged into this Artnet News Pro account on another device. setNewsletterCookie('signedUp', 1); Stepfather to Todd and Trevor Traina. (function defernl() { }; + '

' // Check if ouibounce exist before calling ouibounce $.fn.serializeFormJSON = function () { The divorce of Wilsey and Montandon after 10 years of marriage was -- at the time -- one of the most expensive divorce cases in San Francisco history. Dede Wilsey. To learn more about who we are and how you can play a part, contact us using the form below! There was a very nice dealer who we knew in London. } But this could have happened to a kid anywhere. Put it in the basement of the Legion? The catalyst was the Russian National Orchestras annual summer residency in Northern California, starting in 1999. setCookie(cookieName, value, expirationMinutes); Magic that celebrates ones surroundings. And living in a house like this, you realize that a great big kitchen and a great big porch are really where you want to be., For his part, Trevor adds that even the houses indoor living can feel somewhat alfresco: I joke that were camping here, because we have 18th-century wallpaper. Though they both grew up in high-style households, Trevor says, were very casual and we arent at all fancy here., Trevor and Alexis are undoubtedly the chicest couple I know, says design impresario Ken Fulk, a close friend. But two people can be in the same place at the same time and come away with two different perceptions of reality. I was there with John Buchanan, our director at the time. if (!window.jQuery) loadJQuery(); // Show email validation error and hide other errors The To Kalon vineyards, which are all around us, have several different owners now, but fetch some of the highest prices in the world for grapes, Trevor explains. Nimbus Arts "Oh the Glory of It All," the coming-of-age story of troubled rich kid Sean Wilsey, won't arrive in bookstores until mid-May, but it's already the talk of the party circuit -- and is likely to become the juiciest gossip in years when the book is excerpted in the New Yorker in its April 11 issue, hitting newsstands this week. In 1980, she married dairy millionaire Wilsey, who had recently divorced his third wife, Pat Montandon. //exdays*24*60*60 It personally hurts my feelings to have people talk about a city that I love and say, I dont want to go there anymore, she says, and you can hear the distress in her voice. }); // Does the email match our regex? As soon as people start reading "Oh the Glory of It All," which reconstructs conversations and gives his version of his life history to date, they'll begin debating whether his views are accurate or not. Shortly after our conversation, FAMSF announced that the former director, Max Hollein, would be replaced by Thomas P. Campbell, who was the director of New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art from 2009 to 2017. In his book, 34-year-old Sean Wilsey blames his stepmother for the breakup of his parents' marriage, and, in part, for his spiral into delinquency. Sean Wilsey was Al Wilsey's third son, from his third marriage. I am truly a happy camper!, Dianne Martinez, Nimbus Arts first ArtPass holder, The caliber and quality of Nimbus Arts programming is exemplary. init: function (formElement, onSuccess) { Then Montandon became hostess of a TV show, where she caught Al Wilsey's eye. It is so much fun to have that deja vu, Wilsey says. found = false; It is a peculiar feeling to think its not your father, its your son.. 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. Website design by Compass Marketing, website development by StoryWorkz. A well-known donor to Bay Area causes and an heiress to the Dow Chemical fortune, Wilsey recently stepped down from her 21-year position as the president of the San Francisco Fine Arts Museums board. My ten-year-old grandson thinks its so cool. Here's why that's ironic. Definitely the Koons egg. We spend our weekends tinkering with old cars. I asked them to tell their Napa Valley stories and to describe the places, things, and experiences they love about the valley. Wilseys legacy is the de Young Museum. the San Francisco Fine Art Museums nabbed it. initNewsletterSignup(); // FUNCTIONS Feature Stories, News, One On One, Philanthropy. There is an energetic, youthfulness to Wilsey and when she speaks, her tone is both excited and astute. if (getCookie(cookieNames[i]).length) { For the Fine Arts Museums, I recently bought a Canaletto at the Getty auction. A writer and filmmaker (Golden Globe for, By Alexis Traina. 649 Main Street On the lifestyle front, her duties also including writing about cannabis culture for The Chronicle and its cannabis website, www.GreenState.com website. I just bought a new dog picture. In 1982, Wilsey writes, his mother helped author Jerry Jampolsky promote his book, "Children as Teachers for Peace." Great. Trainas security detail isnt for every ambassador, only the Israeli Ambassador and the American Ambassador require the extra protection because of ISIS. }, 7500); var $modal = $('#ouibounce-modal'); San Francisco is a character here, as is Tuscany. $form.submit(function(e){ Sean Wilsey alleges that his stepmother did not allow him or his stepbrothers from Wilsey's previous marriages to view their father's will. throw Error('onSuccess callback is required'); function setNewsletterCookie(cookieName, value) { I must sit here behind this guard. And I said, Fine. 649 main street function checkCookies() { rollicking, ruthless . + 'Signup failed. if (prefix == undefined) { DC, but has been in the Bay Area for a number of years, with homes in San Francisco and the Napa Valley. She divorced Traina in 1980 and married Al Wilsey, divorced by then from Montandon, in May 1981. We needed a museum, and it had been there, it was just so damaged by the earthquake that it couldnt stay open anymore. We have such diversity in our exhibitions, and its a learning experience every time we open an exhibition. Once you really understand that you can make a difference, I think thats the bottom line of all philanthropy. The fact that they are all-inclusive. It was at Amity, a now-defunct reform school in Tuscany, that Wilsey was transformed. My fantasy was to be a gentleman farmer with three grapevines and art. Along the way, theatrical and visual arts experiences expanded into . Bottlerock Napa Valley 2021 reminds us of what it means to just feel good again. ctx.submit($form, onSuccess); As an adult, he began to stand up to what he describes as her verbal put-downs. The "Access for All campaign" submitted a petition to the San Francisco elections department Monday with enough signatures to get a measure on the November ballot. With inspiring education programs for youth and seniors, tuition-free summer academies for vocalists and instrumentalists, and scholarships for talented students, Festival Napa Valley plays a vital part in creating a thriving, healthy, and engaged community, fulfilling its mission to bring the arts to all. Trevor's father, the late John Traina, was a winegrower and vintner in the Napa Valley for many years. Although the exact amount she has donated over the years is not known, Wilsey helped bring in more than $200 million to rebuild the de Young Museum. Michael Taylor decorated Trevors parents homes, and his grandmothers house in Newport, Rhode Island, was done in the 1960s by Valerian Rybar; Thomas Britt decorated the homes of Alexis parents. Her husband echoes the sentiment. Which works or artists are you hoping to add to your collection this year? I cant even remember what I bought after that. . if (jQuery(window).width() > 619) { }); The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. 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. What was your first purchase (and how much did you pay for it)? // of subscribing, or managing their account . Needless to say, we were immediately smitten. var head = document.head },20000); //20 seconds 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. It was great because hes now the ambassador and my father was ambassador to Austria, also. Hes an Australian. But its not just milestones that make the house special; its also everyday moments. I tried my hand in the vineyards and the cellar but found my niche in marketing. email: /^([a-zA-Z0-9_\.\-])+\@(([a-zA-Z0-9\-])+\. Nimbash Tickets. Mine was wine; Claiborne (center)s, photography; and Veronica (front)s, fashion. $.each(a, function () { var $form = $(formElement); Everything she says feels like it could be a secretand its utterly captivating. I dont go to lunch with people or ladies Well, really any lunch. Memoir by son of S.F. + '<\/style>' map, photo credits | site by tmarks | dev by sa8. link.rel = 'stylesheet'; loadFontAwesome: false We interviewed and photographed peoplesome of whom appear in my book, some of whom dontwhose spirit, innovation, and creative gifts we think define this magical place today. Wilsey recently spoke to Artnet News from her San Francisco home, where commissioned portraits of her dogs share wall space with Monet and Kandinsky. // Append ouibounce to page After her marriage to Al Wilsey went south, Montandon went East -- to Egypt, the Vatican and Russia -- with a children's brigade advocating world peace. expiration_days: 14 Vimeo. Although her role as a member of the board has her at the museum several days of the week, she looks at the de Young with childlike wonder. She is the chairman emeritus of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Its as if shes seeing it for the first time. I opened the French Laundry to celebrate the work of the farmers, fishermen, winemakers, foragers, and other purveyors who work directly with the land of this beautiful place. 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. // Show signup failure error and hide other errors Her father was against the marriage. This is a family home; its very comfortable and familiar., The decor is an assemblage of styles, though most are heirlooms and antiques set in place by Trevors mother. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("width", w), googletag.pubads().setTargeting("height", h), 1 == isnewsletter && googletag.pubads().setTargeting("isfirstpage", ['Y', pagetypeforce] ) Ive forgotten which museum its in, but a Degas of the ballet studio with all the dancers in tutus. var valid = ctx.validate( $form, $email); Nimbus Arts 649 Main Street St. Helena, CA 94574 map. It also has Wilsey's painful quest for love, understanding and acceptance from his mother, former San Francisco Examiner society columnist Pat Montandon; his late father, philanthropist and food magnate Al Wilsey; and in particular, his stepmother, Diane "Dede" Wilsey, one of the city's most powerful and admired arts patrons, who led the 10-year- effort to build the $202 million new de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. "If your mother had cared as much about being a wife as she did about being a star, we'd still be married," Al Wilsey told his son after moving into the Fairmont Hotel, according to the book. Inside where the staircase isI looked over there and I sort of expected my parents to come down the stairs. slideInModal('Up'); ultimately generous-hearted." Vogue "A vivid mix of brio, self-awareness and sophistication . The cast of characters is as rich and intertwined as a soap opera. In fact, doing so is something of a family tradition. Kandinsky is not something I would normally buy, either. Nimbus responded by providing community mosaic events, which they do so incredibly well. return ""; $.ajax({ 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. script.crossorigin = "anonymous"; The Venetian scene was due to be auctioned off as part of another prominent San Francisco collection, that of Ann and Gordon Getty, with an estimate of $6 million to $9 millionbut the San Francisco Fine Art Museums nabbed it hours before the sale was due to begin. She declined to address specifics in the memoir. //show automatically after delay This story appears in the November 2017 issue of Town & Country. Its like having a mini-course every time we have a new exhibition. They embrace everybody. var expires = "expires="+d.toUTCString(); In Europe, she came across many who said they no longer wanted to visit SF because its filthy. Festival Napa Valley is a music, food, wine and lifestyle festival held in Napa Valley, California. She is the widow of Alfred Wilsey, who . + '' 88. h = Math.max(document.documentElement.clientHeight, window.innerHeight || 0), During lunch at her Napa Valley estate, a white Maltese sat on her lap, sniffing a plate of sliced peaches and . document.cookie = prefix + cname + "=" + cvalue + ";" + expires + ";path=/"; The acquisition was part of a complex transaction whereby vintner Robert Mondavi purchased the vineyards and Trainas parents received the property and the house. Share. As happens with some memoirs, author and subject appear to be in two polarized camps, with Wilsey's friends protecting him and his stepmothers' friends protectively closing ranks around her. Ahhhh. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. View ALL 9 Photos. Dec 5, 2022. var $email = $form.find('.signup-email'); + '
' Christopher Kostow, seen herewith his wife Martina and their two daughters, grew up near Chicago in a food-forward family that, he says, traveled to eat. After working in some of the best kitchens in the world, he opened the Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, which has been awarded three Michelin stars. Shes given generously to the UCSF medical facilities, San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera. I loved that painting. Wilsey was a prominent Bay Area businessman and owner of Rutherford River Ranch Vineyard in Napa Valley. var paywallPagesRegex = /^\/subscribe|subscribe-confirm|my-account(\/|$)/; They were priced out. Elizabeth and Clarke Swanson. William Van Meter in Partnership With Royal Salute Scotch Whisky, To characterize Sean Wilsey's memoir Oh The Glory Of It All as just a scathing portrait of a wealth-obsessed home-wrecking stepmother would be selling the author short. Neil Sucheck has been collecting production knives for about 30 years, searching for the perfect do-all EDC (everyday carry) knife. } Dede Wilsey - Early Life. She remains a prominent figure in the artistic and . San Francisco jet-setter Denise Hale, who was once married to Hollywood director Vincente Minnelli, has seen her share of friends become the subject of tell-all books. Tax ID 26-4008029. return; Although I was incredibly intimidated by the thought of interviewing San Franciscos reigning queen of philanthropy, any fears melted away within seconds of meeting her. "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. to the new director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco but kept her place as board leader. Instagram. + '<\/div>' Diane (Dede) Wilsey relinquished the title of C.E.O. 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. Dede Wilsey. On March 22, local booksellers gathered at the Presidio for a private meet-and-greet with Wilsey, an editor at large at McSweeney's Quarterly -- a hip, nationally distributed literary magazine co-founded by San Francisco author Dave Eggers. Its a museum picture and it really belongs in a museum. Her sons position is a full circle moment for Wilsey: from 1975 to 1977 her father, Wiley T. Buchanan Jr., served the same role under President Gerald Ford. Contributing to the causes she believes in is her job and one that she takes very seriously. + ' @media (max-width: 1199px){ #ouibounce-modal .description {font-size:13px !important;} }' Ive had two husbands die and then that person. closeSignupBar(); + '<\/div>' Dede Wilsey is a San Francisco socialite, Republican donor and philanthropist, and the widow of San Francisco businessman Al Wilsey. }; A renowned artist, entertainer, and major league raconteur, Ira Yaeger also happens to be my mothers best friend. It is very heavy. She got a job at I. Magnin, married and divorced again and threw theme parties for the social set that attracted media attention. } I thought if I buy another one, then I would feel better. Matthew Kelly } These pursuits along with her frequent appearances on the charity social circuit are why some people refer to Wilsey as a socialite. She married John Traina after his divorce from Dede. .addClass( 'slideIn' + upOrDown ); closeSignupBar(); Dec 5, 2022, By while (c.charAt(0)==' ') { There . Alexis Trainas ode to Napa Valley, which appears in the November issue of Town & Country, went to the printers before the devastating fires broke out in California earlier this month. 3 of 17 4 of 17 Boaz Mazor and Dede Wilsey pose with models during the Opera Ball, celebrating the opening night of the San Francisco Opera Sept. 9, 2016 in San Francisco, Calif. Leah Millis/The . Every once in a while Ill buy something so huge that I wonder, where will I put thisor so tiny that I cant really see it. Napa Valleys flagship festival presents international stars and emerging talent in free and affordable concerts in iconic venues, and to audiences virtually worldwide. Society brat grows up, stops throwing oranges at cars on Russian Hill and escapes to the East Coast. Their May engagement was followed in August by a garden wedding for 400 in the tiny Napa town of Oakville. . Ive hung it on my powder room doorvertically, instead of horizontally. And was this book written for revenge? Right now we have Muslim fashions, we just closed Truth and Beauty, which was Pre-Raphaelite Art. //position at bottom of screen SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE PHOTO BYCHRISTINA KOCI HERNANDEZ CAT, Mr and Mrs Alfred Wilsey If they want to join, fine., Wilseys been trying to make San Francisco a better place since she first came here over 40 years ago. Says, Bill, pictured here with Deborah, Ultimately were building a culture around wine and hospitality that we all hope will last for generations. 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. }); Its the most beautiful picture of a girl in a fabulous negligee, lying on a sofa reading a book. Because we put on exhibitions of every kind. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Since then, I have been buying 19th-century or early 20th-century Maltese or terriers. Theres just a lack of camaraderie in this city anymore, and thats really sad., Speaking of camaraderie, is Wilsey seeing anyone special? document.body.appendChild(script); "If I saw a book in that bookstore with that title, I'd think it was about an Indian princess covered with emeralds, or a memoir about some war general on the winning side. Festival Napa Valley blazed a trail for the other festivals that have since made wine country their home. validate: function( $form, $email ){ The controversy over Wilsey's non-resignation is the through line of the Times profile, but there are a number of other gems from Holson's lunch visit with Wilsey at her Napa Valley estate, as . if (!found) { 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. It was just magical. And she relishes the process that comes with each new exhibit. Wendy Sheanin, events manager at the store, said that anything associated with McSweeney's or bearing the word McSweeney's pricks the interest of readers. I mean you dont want them to blow your child up, Wilsey says seriously. } New Homes . She also told her son that she had cancer and would "be dead by Christmas," but mysteriously, lived on -- with no explanation as to her recovery. What about in your bathroom? By WWD Staff. // Signup submission "I'm surprised I'm in the book -- I wouldn't know Sean Wilsey if he walked in my front door," said de Wildt, a Hollander known for his witty one- liners and scathing put-downs. if (!o[this.name].push) { A screen grab from Wednesday, August 21, shows the award for Dede Wilsey still includes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's name on Shanti's website. return o; After it was damaged by the 1989 earthquake, Wilsey single-handedly raised the necessary funds to build a new museum. I was at boarding school when my parents (pictured here) called to say, We just bought a vineyard in Napa Valley! I have to sit here, and we cant change places. Napa Valley's flagship festival presents international stars and emerging talent in free and affordable concerts in iconic venues, and to audiences virtually worldwide. socialites should set tongues wagging -- and other writers say it's not just trash talk, Mrs and Mrs Wilsey with Sean Patrick Wilsey, age 3, OPERA08D-C-07SEP02-MT-CKH --- Dede Wilsey attended theOpening night of the SF Opera pre-performance galas. Pin. It concerns me greatly. Board of Supervisors and return motorists to the JFK Promenade through Golden Gate Park. That art needed a home, so I think it was pretty simple, we just had to rebuild it. While it was 10 years of hard work, Wilsey counts the de Young as the achievement she is most proud of. Unless you're Sean Wilsey, who wrote a book and is bringing it all out into the open. } else { What work do you have hanging above your sofa? What is the most expensive work of art that you own? setTimeout(function(){ To read an interview with Sean Wilsey, author of "Oh the Glory of It All," log on to www.newyorker.com. // ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 . slideInModal('Down'); But its great, I love it. The museum is still being very well run. callback: function() { Do memoirists -- especially those with dark secrets to tell -- necessarily do so for revenge? It never ceases to amaze me.. $form.find('.errors').children().hide(); I have been told by friends that people think that Im intimidating and I thought it was the funniest thing Ive ever heard, Dede Wilsey says. In fact, we planned a big outdoor christening, but it rainedand it never rains in Napa. The quick-thinking couple cleared out all the furniture in the seldom-used formal parlor to allow about 60 guests to gather inside for the ceremony. My sisters and I each found our creative passions early in life. They are confident and bold in how they live. + '