Henry Segerstrom, philanthropist and visionary developer of California’s South Coast Plaza was celebrated at Carnegie Hall by a VIP gathering of philanthropists, cultural dignitaries, filmmakers, performing artists, and leaders of global fashion brands.
The evening began with the New York premiere of a PBS documentary film about Segerstrom’s life screened at the Directors Guild of America Theater, introduced by its producer Maria Hall-Brown, telling the story of how Segerstrom and his family developed their Orange County lima bean fields and dairy farm into South Coast Plaza, the luxury shopping center in Orange County celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Macy’s CEO and Chairman Terry J. Lundgren offered remarks on behalf of Elizabeth Segerstrom, the glamorous and gracious hostess of the event honoring the life of her husband, who passed away in 2015.
Lundgren also introduced world-renowned soprano Renee Fleming who sang a Puccini aria followed by a beautiful and emotionally affecting “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which Fleming knew to be Segerstrom’s favorite from her long friendship with the family.
Guests included H.E. Nassir and Muna Rihani Al-Nasser, Charles Askegard, Prosper Assouline, Michele Ateyeh, Yanna Avis, Laurie Bodor, Ashley Bouder, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Cece Cord, Rita Cosby, Tom Costello, Drew Damman, Tiffany Dubin, Maxim and Irina Dvorovenko, Lanessa Elrod, Chip Fisher, Olivia Flatto, Christopher Forbes, Francine LeFrak & Rick Friedberg, Michele Gerber Klein, Delphine and Guillaume Gesquiere, Michael Gould, Catherine Hall, Maria Hall Brown, Catharine Hamilton, Gregory & Margaret Hedberg, John Buffalo Mailer, Kevin McKenzie, Chris Minev, Aldo Moschini, Lami Oladipo, Daniel Paltridge, Cole Rumbaugh, Andy Russell, Dame Jillian Sackler, Anton Segerstrom, Stephanie Stokes, Timothy and Susan Straider, Ty Woodson and Judy Zankel.
The film “Henry T. Segerstrom: Imagining the Future,” premieres on New York’s public television stations on Friday, March 31 at 10:30 p.m. on THIRTEEN and Sunday, April 2 at 10 p.m. on WLIW21.