The 14th annual record of notably social individuals from politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
Enrico and Andrea Cecchi (Photo by Joseph Allen)
A
Mr. and Mrs. JAMES ABDO (Mai)
Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAM ABEL-SMITH (Mimi)
The Honorable and Mrs. TYLER ABELL (Bess)
The Honorable DAVID C. ACHESON
Mr. GLEN ACKERMAN and Mr. ERNESTO SANTALLA
Mr. THEO ADAMSTEIN and Ms. OLVIA DEMETRIOU
What We've Learned About Giving: "Be Wary if you hear of a program or idea that is too good to be true. There are no 'silver bullets' that can fix entrenched social problems with one, swift, inexpensive intervention. The real solutions generally come at a problem from multiple approaches, and they take time, money, copious talent, and long-term commitment." - David and Katherine Bradley
When Warren Buffett’s staggering donation of $36.1 billion was added to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s coffers (which already had $30 billion), many proclaimed this to be a new golden age of philanthropy, harkening back to the days of the Rockefeller, Mellon, and Carnegie endowments of countless worthy causes across a broad spectrum of American life. Yet, just a few years later, we are in an economic recession with the contributions of wealthy local residents now shrinking. Some generous donors were hard hit by the Madoff scandal, many others have had major losses in real estate or because of the stock market’s broad decline. As the local supply of capital has fallen for both individuals and private foundations, the need for philanthropy has correspondingly increased. Plus, much giving was directed towards political campaigns in 2008, with many charitable contributions taking a backseat to the historic election. But the tide will turn again.
In a city where influence is everything, these one hundred individuals rise to the top. Some are wealthy, but many are not. They represent a wide variety of professional fields, from faith to finance; but they all share two common traits: They work outside the federal government and hold sway inside the Beltway.
Philanthropist Paul Mellon’s Embassy Row house (top) and grande dame Oatsie Charles’ Georgetown mansion have both been sold to new owners for the second time in recent years. The five-bedrrom Colonial at 1112 Ingleside Avenue in McLean changed hands recently for 2.38 million.
By Mary K. Newborn
THE DISTRICT
The Dougal House, the former Georgetown home of grande dame Marion ‘Oatsie’ Leiter Charles located at 3259 R STREET NW, has sold for the second time in little more than a year. Last October, Mrs. Charles sold it for $7 million, but buyer Christian Hunt soon put it back on the market at $7.4 million with listing agent Jeff Mauer with Coldwell Banker. The second buyer, who paid $6.5 million and wishes to remain anonymous, was represented by Ellen Morrell and Matt McCormick of Washington Fine Properties. With the witty Mrs. Charles as its consummate châtelaine and hostess, the magnificent 1857 Italianate-style residence welcomed such illustrious guests as Ian Fleming, Noël Coward, and Princess Michael of Kent to its embassy-size rooms. The meticulously maintained private grounds feature ponds, a guesthouse, meditation garden, and a large garage.
Just as Mrs. Charles’ famous Georgetown landmark was about to change hands, her grandson, Associated Press reporter Desmond Oates Butler, and Miriam Mahlow, bought a three-bedroom, circa 1900 Georgetown house at 2707 DUMBARTON STREET NW from Benjamin B. and Georgia K. King for $1.23 million. Butler’s father, George Butler, was co-director of the all-time classic bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron, the movie that made Arnold Schwarzenegger famous. His mother, Victoria Leiter Mele, is the grandniece of Victoria Mary Leiter, the Chicago department store heiress who married Lord Curzon, a 19th-century British viceroy of India. Both Desmond Butler’s mother and grandmother now live in Newport, R.I., on the former estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton, amid gardens originally designed by Beatrix Ferrand, the landscape architect who designed the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks.
David and Kirsten Pollin are the new owners of Beechwoods. Readers may recall that the house located at 3006 ALBEMARLE STREET NW in Forest Hills had been home to Franklin and Wendy Raines and was listed by Washington Fine Properties’ agents Matthew McCormick, Ellen Morrell, Patrick Chauvin, and Bonnie Wimsatt for $7,595,000. Dave Pollin is the nephew of Washington Wizard’s owner Abe Pollin, and, like his uncle, made money in real estate. His acquisition, development and management company, Buccini/Pollin Group, has offices in Washington, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, and Beijing. The couple’s 98-year-old stucco Colonial boasts seven bedrooms, a library, office, movie theater, recreation and exercise rooms, a terrace, swimming pool and cabana, tennis court and four-car garage. Washington Fine Properties’ agent Jim Bell represented the Pollins.
The former Washington residence of the late billionaire philanthropist, art collector, and horse breeder Paul Mellon and his widow, Listerine heiress Rachel (“Bunny”) Mellon, has been sold to the Republic of Poland. Located at 3041 WHITEHAVEN STREET NW, the red brick Georgian had most recently belonged to former Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady and his wife Kitty. The Polish government paid $9,550,000 for the four-story brick manse where Ambassador Robert Kupiecki will now reside. One of two adjacent dwellings the Mellons once owned (3055 Whitehaven Street NW, used as an art repository, was purchased by Wayne and Lea Berman for $5 million a few years back), the house is a few doors away from Bill and Hillary Clinton’s Washington residence. It boasts elegant public rooms and a formal garden designed by Mrs. Mellon, now 98, who also helped design the White House Rose Garden for her close friend, Jacqueline Kennedy. Ellen M. Morrell of Washington Fine Properties represented the Republic of Poland. Virginia Chew of Arnold, Bradley, Sargent, Davy and Chew listed the property for the sellers for $10,000,000.
Michelle Haney Maddux is now the proud owner of 5200 PARTRIDGE LANE NW, a $3,310,000 Colonial in Kent. Highlights of the home include a gourmet kitchen, library, playroom, game room, an exercise room, and a wine cellar with a 1,400-bottle capacity. There is also a two-car garage plus room to park six additional vehicles in the stone driveway. Maddux has a Law degree from George Washington University and works for FLH Company, a real estate and property development firm founded by her father, Franklin Haney, in 1967. Both she and her sister Mae Haney have appeared on Washington Life’s “Most Invited” list. Previously, 5200 PARTRIDGE LANE was the residence of David Johnson, and Michelle Maddux lived at 5143 MACOMB STREET, NW with her husband, Victor Maddux, co-owner of MadLax, the metropolitan area’s first and largest Lacrosse Specialty Store.
MARYLAND
Attorney Adam J. Eisner and his wife Amy have a newly constructed residence built by Rasevic Construction Corp. The classic 7,000 square-foot Colonial is located on a quiet cul-de-sac at 6715 LORING COURT in Bethesda’s Loring Park. It cost the couple $1,820,000 and has five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths including a guest suite and master bedroom suite with a double vanity, multiple showerheads and a Jacuzzi. Outdoor living space takes the form of an expansive front porch, heated mahogany rear deck, and a stone patio.
VIRGINIA
Exxon Mobil executive Gary Pruessing and his wife Lisa have sold their home at 1112 INGLESIDE AVENUE in McLean to Daniel and Linda Kao. Weichert realtors Sue Huckaby and Karen Briscoe listed the five-bedroom Colonial built in 2001. The home has a professionally landscaped fenced yard with a patio, fountains, and a swimming pool with a bathhouse and outdoor shower. The Pruessings received $2.38 million for their Reids Grove residence. They paid slightly more – $2.5 million – when they bought it in July, 2005.
Please send real estate news items to columns@washingtonlife.com
The 13th annual record of notably social personalities from the worlds of politics, diplomacy, business, philanthropy, and the arts.
By Kevin Chaffee
John Pyles and Barbara Harrison
This roster is neither the first, nor will it (inevitably) be the last to single out certain individuals, who, by virtue of birth, rank, wealth or accomplishment, take part in the social life of the nation’s capital. Estimable precursors – drumroll here – include The Green Book,” so-called for its faux green suede cover, which has appeared continuously since 1930; and the Blue Book of Washington, D.C., which ceased publication around 1990 after a century in print. The Social Register, sometimes called the “Black Book,” also contains the names of numerous prominent local figures, many hailing from so-called “blue blood” families, although it merged its thin Washington volume into a much larger 12-city national version back in the 1980s.
A major difference separating Washington Life’s list from the others – apart from having no discernible color – is that we do not publish a “phone book” containing addresses and contact information, much less schools attended, club memberships and yacht listings. Ours is merely an alphabetical nomenclature of people who make a difference by adding immeasurably to their city, and by extension, their country and the world. Another point of contrast is size. Compared to the many thousands of entries contained in other directories past and present, WL’s Social List, currently about 700 names and counting, is relatively small. We do not see the need to include every member of the Congress, Cabinet or Court (i.e., Supreme), much less all those with top jobs listed in the “Plum Book” of political appointments.
Oatsie Charles’ Georgetown mansion changes hands again just as her grandson settles in a few blocks away.
By Mary K. Mewborn
Philanthropist Paul Mellon's Embassy Row house.
THE DISTRICT
The Dougal House, the former Georgetown home of grande dame Marion ‘Oatsie’ Leiter Charles located at 3259 R STREET NW, has sold for the second time in little more than a year. Last October, Mrs. Charles sold it for $7 million, but buyer Christian Hunt soon put it back on the market at $7.4 million with listing agent Jeff Mauer with Coldwell Banker. The second buyer, who paid $6.5 million and wishes to remain anonymous, was represented by Ellen Morrell and Matt McCormick of Washington Fine Properties. With the witty Mrs. Charles as its consummate châtelaine and hostess, the magnificent 1857 Italianate-style home at 3259 R STREET NW welcomed such illustrious guests as Ian Fleming, Noël Coward and Princess Michael of Kent to its embassy-size rooms. The meticulously maintained private grounds feature ponds, a guesthouse, meditation garden, and a large garage.
Power, above all, is influence. New York Fashion week bloggers tell Americans with authority that this is the year of the [insert arbitrary skirt length], and America purchases accordingly. The Washington socialite-hostess gathers the ripe fruit of political, economic, and cultural orchards and serves it up as one fabulous cherry bombe at a charity fundraiser or a private soiree with Cabinet secretaries and other major political players. Two men shake hands in the U.S. Senate and a bill passes – or doesn’t. The influence to effect change, be it in the minds or actions of one’s fellow man, is simultaneously the most ephemeral quantity (how does one qualify or rate it?) and the biggest driving force on our planet.
Peter Barris, Ted Leonsis, Joe Robert, Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., Walter Isaacson, Tom Friedman David Rubenstein Bob Woodward, Placido Domnigo, Katherine Bradley,
By Ann Geracimos
Some men, and some women, are born with power, to paraphrase the old adage, while others have it thrust upon them. This seldom is the case these days. The majority of people on Washington Life’s selective list of the most powerful have earned their status the hard way. They would be first to admit that a sense of power is in the eyes of the beholder—that projection often is the key to how power is best applied.
Such a concept was part of the infamous list entrepreneur Bill Regardie contrived someyears ago to define the term and its relevance to the Washington scene. His “rules” perversely eliminated anyone drawing a government paycheck, which at canceling theidea that titles automatically confer prestige. (They often do so, but empty suits are all too common a sight among posturing strutters in our public office.) Another Regardierule stated that wealth doesn’t necessarily beget power, which means that many hoping to claim advantages based on inheritance or a talent for acquisitiveness have to prove otherwise. Money is easy; it’s power that is hard — hard to get and relatively easy to lose.
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