He recounts how he repeatedly promised his parents he would behave and stay out of trouble -- and repeatedly broke those promises. + '<\/i>' She was a part of the search committee that found the new director of the, Another thing she loves about the museums? function setNewsletterCookie(cookieName, value) { 707-963-0278 f Dede Wilsey is a San Francisco socialite, Republican donor and philanthropist, and the widow of San Francisco businessman Al Wilsey. + '
' } Dede Wilsey, an arts benefactor in San Francisco, at her home in the Napa Valley. }); . Here's why that's ironic. Theres nothing I love more than sitting in the passenger seat with him driving, going nowhere fast. 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. }); In San Francisco, its unapologetic old-world glamour; in Oakville, its the perfect combo of chintz and prints, totally comfortable without ever sacrificing style.. The author of "Oh the Glory of It All." A cross-country move to California came next. + '
' setNewsletterCookie('recentlyShown', 1); rollicking, ruthless . We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. My mother-in-law, here with my daughter Delphina, is known for philanthropy, her collector's eye, and, in Napa Valley, her vineyards in Rutherford surrounded by gardens and a . All Rights Reserved.var w = Math.max(document.documentElement.clientWidth, window.innerWidth || 0), Because we put on exhibitions of every kind. Sean Wilsey wrote that novelist Danielle Steel had an affair with Al Wilsey, but when she lost out to Dede, married Traina "as a consolation prize" in June 1981. 649 Main Street As an adult, he began to stand up to what he describes as her verbal put-downs. + '' + ' @media (max-width: 1199px){ #ouibounce-modal .description {font-size:13px !important;} }' closeSignupBar(); .done(function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) { The author's feelings toward his stepmother careen wildly from veneration to venom: He adored her until he was sent off to boarding school and then several reform schools. Frost School at FNV Blackburn Music Academy, Maria Manetti Shrem Daniel Brewbaker Composer Prize. Nimbus responded by providing community mosaic events, which they do so incredibly well. closeSignupBar(); Website design by Compass Marketing, website development by StoryWorkz. $modal.addClass( $modal.hasClass('slideInUp') ? var a = this.serializeArray(); if (c.indexOf(name) == 0) { customSerializer: function(){ San Francisco socialite and philanthropist Diane Wilsey, known as Dede, just gave $100,000 to the streamlining housing measure backed by Mayor London Breed, Proposition D . 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. She was born Diane Dow Buchanan in 1944, to Mr. and Mrs. Wiley T. Buchanan, Jr. Sean Wilsey alleges that his stepmother did not allow him or his stepbrothers from Wilsey's previous marriages to view their father's will. The fact that they are all-inclusive. Its not random. For me it has always been the peoplea tapestry of interwoven multigenerational tribes made up of families, farmers, field-workers, wine- makers, chefs, and creative talent of all sorts. $('#ouibounce-modal') + '' Son of Pat Montandon and the late Al Wilsey, stepson of Dede Wilsey. Dede Wilsey said she has no intention of reading the memoir. Alexis and I were married there on the front lawn, Trevor recalls, and our son was christened here. Dec 12, 2022, By A naturally gracious hostess, Wilsey has an uncanny ability to make anyone feel comfortable. He went on to become winemaker at Harlan Estate and Bond, producers of some for the most sought-after cult wines ever made in the United States. At the forefront of this cultural dimension is Nimbus Arts!, Nimbus continues to be an amazing gift to this community and we are forever grateful to the entire team for your creativity, genius, dedication and commitment., Trevor & Kelly Foster, Nimbus Arts Leadership Circle and Supporter, Art is a powerful healer! pagetypeurl = document.URL, I wondered if wed live near Lorenzo Lamas. It is both an honor and a source of ongoing wonder to see all the ways that art makes us think, brings us joy, and makes the world a better place., Dana Johnson, Nimbus Arts Co-Founder and Board President, In any discussion about Napa Valley culture, the first two words that invariably come up are wine and food. But theres a third dimension to the region- the arts- that has been steadily expanding in scope and inspiring residents and visitors to enjoy and embrace their creative side. 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. Festival Napa Valley introduces audiences to the beauty, artistry and joy of dance through this innovative series. Artnet News, We all have different reasons for coming to Napa Valley: the light, the air, the soil, the vistas, and, of course, the wine. I said, About how much?. var cookieNames = ['recentlyShown', 'signedUp', 'closedSignupBar','signup_cookie']; Since 2019, Wilsey has also underwritten the museums Free Saturday program, providing free general admission to the de Young and Legion of Honor for Bay Area residents every weekend. On the lifestyle front, her duties also including writing about cannabis culture for The Chronicle and its cannabis website, www.GreenState.com website. recentlyShown: { The festival attracts over 10,000 guests each season. checkCookies(); var ctx = this; Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved. When she'd come to San Francisco in 1960, she was divorced from an Air Force major. See our Privacy Policy for more information about cookies. Share. I just bought a new dog picture. slideInModal('Down'); But its great, I love it. Dede Wilsey is a San Francisco socialite, Republican donor and philanthropist, and the widow of San Francisco businessman Al Wilsey. map, 707-963-5278 t return c.substring(name.length,c.length); She declined to address specifics in the memoir. Napa Valley's flagship festival presents international stars and emerging talent in free and affordable concerts in iconic venues, and to audiences virtually worldwide. } The first dog picture was commissioned for my Jack Russell, Melissa, and my first Maltese, Serena. In fact, doing so is something of a family tradition. ctx.customSerializer(); New Homes . A fabulous Caillebotte in London. Dede Wilsey is a San Francisco socialite, Republican donor and philanthropist, and the widow of San Francisco businessman Al Wilsey. The fact that in the Bay Area no female is as graceful and giving as Wilsey. "In my opinion, most of these books are written for one of three reasons -- money, self-aggrandizement or a vendetta," she said. She's sitting in an armchair in her Napa Valley homethe place where she is most happyher 10-year old Maltese at her feet. Instagram. Dede Wilsey's House (Google Maps). By the time the company was sold, a few years ago, I was its longest-serving employee. 649 Main Street (function defernl() { Wilsey and I are 30 minutes into an hour-long conversation, and I couldnt agree with her more. Tax ID 26-4008029. var signup = link.href = fileName; setTimeout(function(){ You cant tell the difference. And I love the fact that its a constant learning experience and then you work with wonderful people., Wilsey has just finished her latest project with the museums. Her husband echoes the sentiment. Historically, its mind-blowing, she says. + '<\/div>' contentType: 'application/json; charset=UTF-8', Then I have to pinch myself and think no, its somebody else. To read an interview with Sean Wilsey, author of "Oh the Glory of It All," log on to www.newyorker.com. During lunch at her Napa Valley estate, a white Maltese sat on her lap, sniffing a plate of sliced peaches and . } The Interview: The Joy of Generosity. He has two guards with him at all times. It never ceases to amaze me.. "I don't think you can overestimate the size of the mushroom cloud that will appear over Pacific Heights," said author Armistead Maupin, whose 1976 serial "Tales of the City" provided a fictional mirror for real-life San Francisco personalities. My mother-in-law, here with my daughter Delphina, is known for philanthropy, her collectors eye, and, in Napa Valley, her vineyards in Rutherford surrounded by gardens and a miniature train station. Thats me with my husband and partner in crime, Trevor Traina. " Maupin read the book and has supplied a cover blurb for it. // Handler for close signup button But that doesnt mean Wilsey, or any of her family, will hide. He never found exactly what he was looking for, so back in 2015, he and his wife enrolled in a blacksmithing class through The School of Visual Arts in Brooklyn, NY, to learn how to make hand forged knifes. Since then, I have been buying 19th-century or early 20th-century Maltese or terriers. . //hide on mobile phones var script = document.createElement('script'); My lunch, if Im home, its on a tray with my dog. }, 100); if (!$modal.length) { She is the granddaughter of Herbert Henry Dow, founder of the American multinational conglomerate Dow Chemical. var expirationMinutes = settings.expiration_minutes; She worked as the paper's society columnist from 2000 to 2004, when she wrote about the lifestyles of the rich but not necessarily famous. } A new book offers a primer on how to spot, seize, and exploit and create lucky breaks More, Get a high-tech upgrade with innovative televisions, vacuums, purifiers and LED face masks More, Interior designer Sergio Mercado worked with a Palm Beach family to create a serene oasis in the sky More, The luxury lifestyle brand opens its first guest house retreat in the Meatpacking District More, The dream team of interior designer Ken Fulk and Major Food Group brought the Italian restaurant to Dallas, More, Celebrate French haute couture and the iconic LV artisans with these coffee table books More, The James F.D. } She got a job at I. Magnin, married and divorced again and threw theme parties for the social set that attracted media attention. 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. I am thankful for what Nimbus Arts has done for the community and look forward to continue working with them to increase access to art for all of Napa Countys residents and visitors., Diane Dillon, Supervisor, District 3, County of Napa, Everyone at Nimbus is friendly, accommodating and supportive. I cant imagine having nothing to do but lie there and read a book. Its like having a mini-course every time we have a new exhibition. I bought it in memory of Ann Getty. The festival underwent a major rebranding in 2016, changing its name to Festival Napa Valley. + '
' } The Best Carry-On Backpacks for Every Traveler, The Best Luxury Luggage for Traveling in Style, A Guide to 8 Hotels in The Reluctant Traveler. Traina was nominated by President Trump and approved by the Senate, before he moved his wife, Alexis Swanson Traina, and two children, to Europe. It is very heavy. 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. var expires = "expires="+d.toUTCString(); I cant even remember what I bought after that. She is the chairman emeritus of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Wilsey is referring to her elder son, Trevor Traina, who moved to Vienna earlier this year to become the United States Ambassador. })(); artnet and our partners use cookies to provide features on our sites and applications to improve your online experience, including for analysis of site usage, traffic measurement, and for advertising and content management. . I dont go to lunch with people or ladies Well, really any lunch. Vittoria Benzine, Dede has had a residence in the heart of the Napa Valley since 1970. 88. var $modal = $('#ouibounce-modal'); Her maternal great-grandfather, Herbert Henry Dow, was the founder of Dow Chemical. It was great because hes now the ambassador and my father was ambassador to Austria, also. He arrived in Napa Valley at age 12 when his parents, Eleanor and Francis, bought a house and moved the family up from San Francisco. }) In a six-month project with The Chronicle's investigative team, she recently revealed the misleading practices of a San Francisco fashion charity that took donations from wealthy philanthropists but donated little to the stated cause of helping the developmentally disabled. }); From left: Dede and Al Wilsey in 2001, Cissie Swig in 1992, Frances and John Bowes in 1995; Sharon Owsley in 1993 | San Francisco Examiner via Library of Congress I dont care. document.cookie = prefix + cname + "=" + cvalue + ";" + expires + ";path=/"; Pin. ". UCSF Medical Center has named Diane "Dede" Wilsey to lead the philanthropic effort in behalf of UCSF Medical Center's new state-of-the art clinical facility planned for construction at Mission Bay. Nimbash Tickets. found = false; And make this a better place and respect the climate and respect people from all countries and understand that unless they work hard to make it better, were in real trouble, she says sounding more like a politician than a grandmother. // Check if ouibounce exist before calling ouibounce prefix = 'artnet_newsletter_'; Hair and makeup by Sherrie Long (Molly Chappellet and Thomas Keller) and Bianca Rubi (all others). Memoir by son of S.F. + '
' function appendNewsletterSignup() { Im doing a good job and most of the people who really dont like me Ive never met anyway. o[this.name] = [o[this.name]]; Facebook. //exdays*24*60*60 The drive from San Francisco to the Napa Valley takes only a little more than an hour, . regex: { I bought a [Mary] Cassatta woman with a baby. Festival Napa Valley is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 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. Everything in the Gettys house was just so special. The couple soon became leading lights of the high society of San Francisco and Napa Valley, where they maintained a country house. to the new director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco but kept her place as board leader. "It's not a gossipy tell-all, it's a coming-of-age story about a child surviving a life of conspicuous consumption," Maupin said in a telephone interview from New York, where a film based on his latest novel, "The Night Listener," is being filmed with Robin Williams and Toni Collette. * There is probably no need to call this directly - use setNewsletterCookie(). Although the exact amount she has donated over the years is not known, Wilsey helped bring in more than $200 million to rebuild the, lthough 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 a grandmother on the loose, with good taste. But two people can be in the same place at the same time and come away with two different perceptions of reality. }, ), For Alexisthe daughter of Elizabeth and W. Clarke Swanson Jr., a renowned vintner, whose grandfather started the national food-production company that bears the family namewhats outside of the house is equally important. 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. Register Now. } Festival Napa Valley blazed a trail for the other festivals that have since made wine country their home. That's the most powerful kind of memoir. Early in life, he decided that emotions "had made my mom crazy, and I would not succumb to that." found = true; Al Wilsey died in 2002 at the age of 82. 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 .