This is a carousel. Ive had two husbands die and then that person. 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. You get the sense that she would take a bullet for her son if need be. }, Dede Wilsey Is Co-Hosting a Trump Fundraiser In San Francisco - SFist closedSignupBar: { setNewsletterCookie('recentlyShown', 1); The strength of the book is that Sean Wilsey is a terrific writer. Elizabeth and Clarke Swanson. Diane "Dede" Wilsey. Dede Wilsey has been a supporter of the de Young Museum in San Francisco since 1998, but she only began collecting art for herself a few years later, when she was looking for a place to put her . data: JSON.stringify( $form.serializeFormJSON() ), ". }); } The author's feelings toward his stepmother careen wildly from veneration to venom: He adored her until he was sent off to boarding school and then several reform schools. // Handler for close signup button + '
' "All of our good times were up here," Trevor, son of the late shipping mogul John Traina and the philanthropist Dede Wilsey, says of the six-acre property. I installed that one and I still felt sad. "In any discussion about Napa Valley culture, the first two words that invariably come up are "wine" and "food." . The fact that in the Bay Area no female is as graceful and giving as Wilsey. //show automatically after delay closeSignupBar(); Dede Wilsey, born Diane Dow Buchanan, was the great-granddaughter of the founder of Dow Chemical Co. "Oh the Glory of It All," the coming-of-age story of troubled rich kid Sean Wilsey, won't arrive in bookstores until mid-May, but it's already the talk of the party circuit -- and is likely to become the juiciest gossip in years when the book is excerpted in the New Yorker in its April 11 issue, hitting newsstands this week. Festival Napa Valley is a music, food, wine and lifestyle festival held in Napa Valley, California. "A fact checker from the New Yorker called the other day, and every fact they checked with me was wrong," she said. Society brat grows up, stops throwing oranges at cars on Russian Hill and escapes to the East Coast. She is a grandmother on the loose, with good taste. Its a museum picture and it really belongs in a museum. } Frost School at FNV Blackburn Music Academy, Maria Manetti Shrem Daniel Brewbaker Composer Prize. I buy a lot of Chinese export porcelain. She is the widow of Alfred Wilsey, who . I dont go to social partiesmost of the stuff I do is work., Her critics might scoff at her way of thinking, but Wilsey, spoken like a real powerhouse, doesnt give a damn. var ctx = this; SignupForm.init($modal.find('form'), function onSuccess() { $form.find('.invalid-email').show().siblings().hide(); Trump Jr., Guilfoyle raise $2.5 million on California swing for Trump 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 . $form.find('.errors').children().hide(); function initNewsletterSignup() { My parents always had friends around and there was a lot of entertaining, and summer was spent hereall summer.. She and Wilsey were fixtures on the social axes of San Francisco and Napa Valley, where they maintained a country house. Because we put on exhibitions of every kind. Dede Wilsey's House in Napa, CA (Google Maps) (#2) - Virtual Globetrotting We spend our weekends tinkering with old cars. There was a very nice dealer who we knew in London. Thats me with my husband and partner in crime, Trevor Traina. var $modal = $('#ouibounce-modal'); Since then, Dede has built a formidable collection of Impressionist art . Oct 20, 2022, By "We'll teach him a lesson together." At Nimbus Arts, Neil teaches a myriad of dynamic and very popular blade smithing classes. 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. It seems that no matter where he lived, whether in reform school or high society life, people were jockeying for power -- and Wilsey was terrible at understanding and following the rules. + ' @media (max-width: 767px){ .close-signup {top:0 !important;} }' New Homes . } 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. How San Francisco's Wealthiest Families Launched Kamala Harris 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. There were two people in beautiful clothes, a man and a woman with a parasol, walking away from you. She also is featured prominently in her stepson Sean Wilsey's memoir Oh the Glory of it All in which the author describes her as his "evil stepmother". }; Dede Wilsey has been a supporter of the de Young Museum in San Francisco since 1998, but she only began collecting art for herself a few years later, when she was looking for a place to put her energy after the death of her husband, dairy and real-estate tycoon Al Wilsey. Diane "Dede" Wilsey, Philanthropist. e.preventDefault(); Tax ID 26-4008029. The first serious picture that I bought was right after my husband died. .addClass( 'slideIn' + upOrDown ); "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. Just fabulous. Following her mother Ruth Buchanan's death, Dede Wilsey purchased the house in March 2020. His parents, he writes, were so narcissistic they didn't have time to nurture him. Dede Wilsey - Early Life Then you suddenly say to yourself, Why in the world did I do that?! She is the chairman emeritus of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. I always intended to collaborate with my youngest sister, the photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank, on the project. $email.focus(); }, She raised $3.2 million for the Immaculate Conception Academy, and she led fundraising that bankrolled $16.6 million for Grace Cathedral. At least $95 million | 78 years old | United States Primary Position: CEO, Wilsey Properties . It saved you,' " Wilsey writes. The museum is still being very well run. 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. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("width", w), googletag.pubads().setTargeting("height", h), 1 == isnewsletter && googletag.pubads().setTargeting("isfirstpage", ['Y', pagetypeforce] ) Repressing his emotions caused anger, rage and hate, but at Amity, he writes, he found a tenderness in the teaching program that allowed him to open up. Diane (Dede) Wilsey relinquished the title of C.E.O. Trevor said to me, Mom, you have to sit here. 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. Board of Supervisors and return motorists to the JFK Promenade through Golden Gate Park. ", A Clean, Well-Lighted Place for Books has already lined up Wilsey for an appearance in May. Dede Wilsey. timeout: 10000 + '
Get hand-picked stories from our editors delivered straight to your inbox every day.<\/p>' if (typeof ouibounce !== 'undefined') { .done(function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) { 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 . }); Dede Wilsey - Wikipedia setTimeout(function() { defernl() }, 250); The drive from San Francisco to the Napa Valley takes only a little more than an hour, but for tech entrepreneur and IfOnly CEO Trevor Traina and his wife, Swanson Vineyards creative director Alexis Swanson Traina, the two places feel as far away from each other as possible. "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. He is heir to a name that has long been synonymous with Napa. $('body').append(signup); 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. Please try again later.' I look at this picture all the time. 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 $9 millionbut the San Francisco Fine Art Museums nabbed it hours before the sale was due to begin. // ------------------------------------------------------------------- The festival attracts over 10,000 guests each season. As tough as he was on his parents and stepmother, he was also tough on himself. pagetypeurl = document.URL, st.helena, ca 94574 She is the chairman emeritus of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Trevor Traina, an entrepreneur who sold his technology venture compare.net to Microsoft, is a trustee of the Fine Arts Museums. As Herb Caen used to say, 'There's nothing older than yesterday's news.' Father of Sean Wilsey and sons Michael and Ladd Wilsey from previous marriages. Shortly after our conversation, FAMSF announced that the former director, Max Hollein, would be replaced by Thomas P. Campbell, who was the director of New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art from 2009 to 2017. if ($modal.hasClass('slideInDown')) return; o[this.name] = this.value || ''; } // Check if ouibounce exist before calling ouibounce Dede Wilsey isn't the only one taken to task. crossDomain: true, The old house had less room, but was very charming., Even with its updates, the Napa Valley getaway is a far cry from the couples primary residence, in Pacific Heights. Hair and makeup by Sherrie Long (Molly Chappellet and Thomas Keller) and Bianca Rubi (all others). JDK-8141210 : Very slow loading of JavaScript file with recent JDK Along the way, theatrical and visual arts experiences expanded into . + '<\/div>' Todd Traina is a film producer. And the thing is, we come from wicker. (Well, almost. Her fierce commitment and intense loyalty can also be seen in her tireless philanthropic works. Theres just a lack of camaraderie in this city anymore, and thats really sad., Speaking of camaraderie, is Wilsey seeing anyone special? It doesnt work. if (getCookie(cookieNames[i]).length) { I couldnt care less. Wilsey's family got a direct thanks from the Trump administration for their past support . } Governed by a dedicated board of prominent vintners and local leaders, the Festival enriches the heart and soul of Napa Valley through its diverse programs. ", In his book-jacket blurb, Eggers, whom the New York Times recently suggested is "the (George) Plimpton of his generation," called the book "the most compulsively readable book I've picked up in years.". Right now we have, Social Media Management for Interior Designers, Social Media Management for Real Estate Developers, Gettys Throw Star-Studded Poker Night For AmfAR, Faena Debuts Newest ShowSamsara Cabaret At Faena Theatre, Blossoms Rare: Haute Livings Exclusive Editorial Featuring, Chasing The Sun: Haute Livings Exclusive Editorial, Le Grand Ball of Time: Haute Livings Exclusive Editorial, Braman Miamis Mike Rodriguez On The Power Of, Gucci Taps Its 90s Archives For The Fall/Winter 2023, Inside Jenny Cipolettis Glamorous Baby Dior Baby, From Naomi Campbell To Sadie Sink: Inside Alexander, New York City Welcomes Haute Leaders For The First Time. She is the chairman emeritus of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Ive forgotten which museum its in, but a Degas of the ballet studio with all the dancers in tutus. Pin. Her father was, variously, the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and Austria, as well as the White House Chief of Protocol under Dwight Eisenhower. + '<\/div>' Dede Wilsey is a San Francisco socialite, Republican donor and philanthropist, and the widow of San Francisco businessman Al Wilsey. submit: function($form, onSuccess) { I have to sit here, and we cant change places. Over the years, Wilsey has earned a place on the Mount Rushmore of remarkable women who lead by giving and doing for the City's premier cultural institutions. What were we going to do with the art if we didnt [rebuild it]? //if any of these cookies are found, we don't show the modal. appendNewsletterSignup(); Montandon was awarded $20,000 a month, which she said was too little to maintain the lifestyle to which she'd become accustomed. Historically, its mind-blowing, she says. But the little girl is so cute that I couldnt resist her. } function loadJQuery() { 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. These pursuits along with her frequent appearances on the charity social circuit are why some people refer to Wilsey as a socialite. $modal.addClass( $modal.hasClass('slideInUp') ? Festival Napa Valley introduces audiences to the beauty, artistry and joy of dance through this innovative series. I asked them to tell their Napa Valley stories and to describe the places, things, and experiences they love about the valley. A naturally gracious hostess, Wilsey has an uncanny ability to make anyone feel comfortable. For the Fine Arts Museums, I recently bought a Canaletto at the Getty auction. "He's simply trying to cast an honest eye on himself and his family. Arriving at their historic, Victorian-style Oakville home, its easy to understand why the pairknown for their notable art collection, philanthropy and omnipresence on the San Francisco social scenepack up their kids almost every weekend and head here to unwind. if (generalSettings.loadFontAwesome) { I bought a [Mary] Cassatta woman with a baby. setNewsletterCookie('signedUp', 1); Who Lives In Newport's Mansions? How New Money May Change The Town The couple soon became leading lights of the high society of San Francisco and Napa Valley, where they maintained a country house. Dede Wilsey's House in Napa, CA (Google Maps) (#3) - Virtual Globetrotting + '<\/form>' . Julie Baumgardner, By I now have an entire bathroom, dressing room, bedroom at my house in Napa covered in these paintingsjust wall to wall. // Signup validation He now works as an editor at large for McSweeney's, co-founded by Dave Eggers. "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. Wilsey's chapters about life at boarding school examine the power struggles among students. She was a part of the search committee that found the new director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), the umbrella that oversees both the de Young and the Legion of Honor. His millions came from his Wilsey Bennett Co., which manufactured edible oils, margarines and butter pats, and also from real estate investments. William Van Meter in Partnership With Royal Salute Scotch Whisky. It is loaned to the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis. if (!window.jQuery) loadJQuery(); link.href = fileName; You learn all about what that art is and that artist. When he did return home periodically in the 1980s, his mother threw him out of the house; his father's patience wears thin. UCSF Medical Center Names Dede Wilsey to Lead New Philanthropic Effort Al Wilsey also invested in real estate with developer Gerson Bakar. var paywallPagesRegex = /^\/subscribe|subscribe-confirm|my-account(\/|$)/; 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 . $.fn.serializeFormJSON = function () { Once you really understand that you can make a difference, I think thats the bottom line of all philanthropy. Dede Wilsey Comments on Paul Pelosi's (Alleged) Drunk-Driving - SFist } But its great, I love it. . } No. link.type = 'text/css'; We have a number of family portraits, of my grandparents and my mother, and pieces of furniture I grew up with in various houses, he says. throw Error('onSuccess callback is required'); onSuccess(); Everybodys psyche is high, and now theyre very much looking forward to the new director, Wilsey says. prefix = 'artnet_newsletter_'; }); aggressive: true, function appendNewsletterSignup() { Shes sitting in an armchair in her Napa Valley homethe place where she is most happyher 10-year old Maltese at her feet. for(var i = 0; i NOV-DEC 2021 HAUTE LIVING SAN FRANCISCO - Issuu 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. Put it in the basement of the Legion? 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. Standard subscriptions can be purchased on the subscription page. script.integrity = "sha256-hVVnYaiADRTO2PzUGmuLJr8BLUSjGIZsDYGmIJLv2b8="; 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. They married in 1969. "I love that quality in anybody because I think you have to be brave to tell the truth in life," Montandon said. Wilsey was a prominent Bay Area businessman and owner of Rutherford River Ranch Vineyard in Napa Valley. + '' Since then, she has worked for the Sunday Style and Datebook sections, covering gala night openings and writing trend pieces. } + '
' Dede Wilsey Buys Ballot Measure to Return Cars to JFK Contributing to the causes she believes in is her job and one that she takes very seriously. They were priced out. var i = cookieNames.length, "The clich 'truth is stranger than fiction' may well have been coined to describe Sean Wilsey's wild, wise, and whip-smart memoir." Elle "[An] irreverent and remarkably candid memoir about growing up in wealthy eighties San Francisco . function setNewsletterCookie(cookieName, value) { I said, About how much?. In Europe, she came across many who said they no longer wanted to visit SF because its filthy. + '<\/i>' "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. expiration_days: 5 Instagram. Wilsey is the mother of film producer Todd Traina and Trevor Traina. to the new director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco but kept her place as board leader. St.Helena, CA 94574 + 'Signup failed. "There hasn't been a wicked stepmother like that since 'Cinderella.' } Here's why that's ironic. We all have different reasons for coming to Napa Valley: the light, the air, the soil, the vistas, and, of course, the wine. The longtime supporter of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco on the Caillebotte that got away and the pleasures of pet portraiture. The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. You are currently logged into this Artnet News Pro account on another device. So, whats the difference? var o = {}; But two people can be in the same place at the same time and come away with two different perceptions of reality. Paul Pelosi's DUI arrest over Memorial Day Weekend in Napa has become major fodder for right-wing loons who have been misinformed that he's skirting any charges, but society doyenne Dede Wilsey . The Interview: The Joy of Generosity. } top: 'auto', 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. + 'Please enter a valid email address' 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. 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. It never ceases to amaze me.. if (!$modal.length) { And it's notable that Trevor's mother is the brilliant Dede Wilsey, a breath-takingly effective fundraiser and philanthropist in San Francisco. Well, Im sure there are several and Im sure I have sold them by now. Nimbus Arts A Tribute to the Napa Valley - Town & Country What Im trying to do is make the city a better place. 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. 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! It was great because hes now the ambassador and my father was ambassador to Austria, also. The fact that they are all-inclusive. It concerns me greatly. Its a really amazing thing to do, to stroll on a warm night with a glass of wine.In a place like this, it certainly is. return; This story appears in the November 2017 issue of Town & Country. A socialite makes peace - The Mercury News I must sit here behind this guard. And I said, Fine. I actually really love it, but it is just not very practical. Nimbus Arts - Napa Valley Community access to art 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. Diane Buchanan "Dede" Wilsey is a San Francisco socialite, Republican Party donor, and philanthropist. The Life-Changing Magic Of Giving With Dede Wilsey - Haute Living 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. Best Western - WWDA Glorious Beginning Spoiled-Childhood and Memoir Both "I had a dirt bike and loved exploring the mountainside on it." Do memoirists -- especially those with dark secrets to tell -- necessarily do so for revenge? 649 main street What is the most expensive work of art that you own? //default prefix is 'artnet_newsletter_' Stepmother of Sean Wilsey. // don't show it on paywall-related pages where the user might be in the process By the time the company was sold, a few years ago, I was its longest-serving employee. Memoir by son of S.F. // Extends jQuery with a function to serialize to JSON And was this book written for revenge? Magic that celebrates ones surroundings. Its as if shes seeing it for the first time. My sisters and I each found our creative passions early in life. var ca = document.cookie.split(';'); Old, young, every ethnic group. setTimeout(function() { the San Francisco Fine Art Museums nabbed it. My ten-year-old grandson thinks its so cool. if (paywallPagesRegex.test(window.location.pathname)) { A writer and filmmaker (Golden Globe for, By Alexis Traina. 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. $modal[0], { Often well put the kids to bed and then take a walk, he says. View ALL 9 Photos. My fantasy was to be a gentleman farmer with three grapevines and art. } 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. 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. DC, but has been in the Bay Area for a number of years, with homes in San Francisco and the Napa Valley. Nimbash Tickets. Needless to say, we were immediately smitten. // Init - Anything you want to happen onLoad (usually event bindings) 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. info@nimbusarts.org, 2023 nimbus arts tax ID: 27-1503762, Nimbus Arts She remains a prominent figure in the artistic and . We needed a museum, and it had been there, it was just so damaged by the earthquake that it couldnt stay open anymore.