Benjamin Marshall Celebrated at The Drake Hotel

March 14, 2011 in I On The Scene

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Oh, what a night! The Benjamin Marshall Society held an outstanding gala at the Drake Hotel to honor the visions of the beloved and brilliant Benjamin Marshall. This historic architect presented Chicago with some of the most famous buildings in the city. Some of his dramatic and landmark buildings include the Drake Hotel, the Blackstone Hotel, the South Shore Cultural Center, 1550 North State Parkway, and 999 North Lake Shore Drive.

He was known for his flamboyant and lavish lifestyle and for doing things his way. He dressed elaborately and lived in a 9,000 square foot mansion in Wilmette where he would entertain the rich and famous. He was quite handsome and greatly admired for his work. Although Marshall did not have a formal education, his drive, imagination and social connections helped contribute to his success. After apprenticing for a Chicago architect he started his own firm.

We are all thrilled that Jane Lepauw, the Marshall Society President was so enthusiastic about bringing more awareness to this architectural genius. The A-list that made this a most magical evening were: Jennifer M. McGregor, Co-Chair with Jane Lepauw, The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Alderman Brendan Reilly, Her Highness Princess Maria-Anna Galitzine, His Serene Highness Prince Piotr Galitzine, and Richard H. Driehaus, Chairman of the Honorary Advisory Board, who loaned two 1929 Packard automobiles from his collection to add to the evening’s decor.
Special thank you to Margaret O’Connor for all her help.

Please enjoy the photos from the gala.
Irene Michaels

Her Royal Highness Maria-Anna Galitzine & Prince Piotr Gallitizine

Benjamin Marshall’s great-grandson Louis Ehrhard of Lake Bluff, Jane Lepauw, Ald. Brendan Reilly, Chairman Richard Driehaus – photos by Jennifer Girard

Richard & Inese Driehaus

Consuelo Lepauw & Sebastien Biscans

Co-Chair Jenifer M. McGregor

Ioann Galitzine, Princess Tatiana Galitzine, Jeff & Laman Tasch

Arie & Bozena Zweig

Sarah Beardsley Tetzlaff, Ted Tetzlaff, Janet Melk

The Honorable Zygmunt Matynia, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago and his wife, Bozena

Carrie Lannon, Dr. Michael O’Meara, Margaret O’Connor

Rick Fizadale & Jane Lepauw

Billy Marovitz & Christie Hefner

Eva Jakubowski, Conrad Miczko, Natasha Isaacs, Larisa Kronfeld

Lucien Lagrange & Walter Jacobson (CBS)

Royal Highness Maria-Anna Galitzine & her daughter, Princess Tatiana

Kendelle Cornette

Matthew Ehrhard (great grandson of Ben Marshall) and Kimberly Brown

Mike & Natasha Issacs

Mara & Bogdan Horoszowski & their daughter Yvette Klobucher

Mario and Kasha Puharich, Kate and Charlie Wojciechowski (NBC5)

Kim Gleeson & Dr.Steve Striker

Event held in the beautiful Gold Coast Room at the Drake Hotel

Flappers flank Irene Michaels & Margaret O’Connor in front of a 645 Deluxe Eight dual cowl phantom – Photo by Jennifer Girard

About Irene Michaels

Over the past 25 years I have taken on the roles of a producer, publisher, insider journalist and fundraiser. My artistic interests began early in my teens working as a model and a dancer throughout the U.S. I formed my first modeling agency before I was twenty. While modeling I secured a re-occurring role in the popular daytime TV series General Hospital. Read more...