"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
“Thank you Don and Judy for the party it was PAW-sitively wonderful.” That’s what this dog is saying in giant kisses. The Labrador puppy was one of the guests at Sunday’s party at Don Tapia’s lavish Paradise Valley home.
Judy Schaefer pictured here with Don, her husband Bill Schaefer, and Scott and Tracy Tonn also hosted the affair to acquaint people with Guide Dogs for the Blind. Guests had the chance to meet some of the dogs, puppies in training and the volunteer puppy raisers.
The organization with campuses in San Rafael, California and Boring, Oregon breeds guide dogs and matches them with their visually impaired soul mates. It’s supported entirely through private donations. Everything - from transportation to room and board, including training and all support services—is free of charge to the blind or visually impaired student.
(By the way.. Judy and Bill Schaefer and I sat together at pro golfer Billy Mayfair’s wedding… the wedding at which the cake had a price tag of $50,000. And that’s not a printing error – it’s price tag was FIFTY THOUSAND.)
Back to Sunday’s party… As we were reminded- taking pictures when there are dogs and kids in the shot is always more challenging. But sometimes the best shots are those which capture the unexpected.
Here’s one of the fun “oops” moments.. when Maja Langbein and I tried to get one of the dogs to pose with her son Jack. Seems he was more curious about my hair. Daddy John Langbein was there – just off camera-- schmoozing of course.
Pictured above is Marc Ashton, Phoenix’s executive director of the Foundation for Blind Children, Don and Scott Tonn, giving the afternoon affair a thumbs up. By the way.. a huge thumbs up for the hikers from Phoenix who climbed Africa’s tallest mountain on an amazing journey.
Marc and Lisa Ashton’s 13 year old son Max, was one of them.. he was one of the eight blind hikers who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro this past summer.
And let’s give the thumbs up for the Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale’s Jewish Book and Cultural Fair! Especially Sandy Adler and Sylvia Gotlib and their volunteer committee. The weeklong fair boasted some great authors! Remember Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker? The real life married couple starred together in the TV series “LA Law”. They dreamed of retiring and living in their 350 year old Italian villa. But as Jill’s mother’s dementia progressed, the actors struggled with the guilt of leaving. Their candid story is captured in the wonderful book Michael wrote “Family Meals Coming Together to Care for an Aging Parent.” Moving her mother to New York in the apartment across the hall and the solution of moving their daughter, a caterer to New York to cook for grandma; brings the nuclear family together. Great book for a holiday gift.
The JCC also hosted Martini’s and Chocolates with Jodyne Speyer who wrote “Dump Em – How to break up with anyone from your best friend to your hairdresser.” Jodyne is a writer and recovering avoidant who has successfully dumped hundreds of people, not always on her own behalf. She also shares the sense of humor of her sister Sarah Silverman.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Subscribe to this comment's feed
