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Social Scene: Queen of Hearts luncheon served up a chapter of inspiration

Vicki Kahn
Special to the Sun
Bob Woodruff speaks about his miraculous recovery while his wife Lee looks on.
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There’s an old saying: and#8220;Behind every successful man there’s a woman.and#8221;

Bob Woodruff, the former ABC co-anchor of and#8220;World News Tonight,and#8221; and his wife Lee proved that adage. The Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation annual Queen of Hearts luncheon at the Resort at Squaw Creek featured the couple as keynote speakers.

Most people had heard of Bob Woodruff, and his accident, after a roadside bomb went off near him while he was on assignment in Iraq. But few of us knew of Lee, his wife of 22 years, who became the glue that held their family together during the long and emotional road to Bob’s recovery. Theirs is a quite remarkable and inspiring story of their enduring love for each other, their resilience and survival. They have chronicled their moving story in their first book, and#8220;In an Instant.and#8221;



When the two perched themselves atop bar stools in front of the 260 female and#8220;Queensand#8221; to speak extemporaneously in tandem, it was Lee who dominated the conversation with her wit and humor. In between interjecting memorable anecdotes, Bob gazed at his wife, truly proud of her. Of course, he hasn’t much recollection of the traumatic ordeal he went through and#8212; including his 30-some days in a medically induced coma. One poignant story he did recount was of his daughter kissing him in his ear (part of a kissing contest they used to conduct on the phone) while he was still in a coma, and a tear appearing in his eye just after.

Lee read a passage from her new book, and#8220;Perfectly Imperfect,and#8221; (Bob wrote the introduction), showcasing her talent as an entertaining writer. Afterward, questions from the audience were taken and then the Woodruffs signed books. Queen of Hearts luncheon chair Brinn Wellise, with help from her crew at Switchback Public Relations and the luncheon committee, produced a perfectly perfect event. Many Queens took advantage of the warm, sunny weather and had a morning ski at Squaw Valley before lunch. The Woodruffs have set up their own foundation, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which assists members of the military who are suffering from brain injuries and the hidden injuries of war. For more information visit http://www.reMIND.org.



Royalty in attendance included Cathy and Debbie Colpitts, Molly Graham, Cathy Dangler, Theresa May Duggan, Patti Boxeth, Ann Beck, Maryellen Vogt, Jill Vacchina, Cindy Gustafson, Vicki Duffy, Robin Dworkin, Dawn Evans, Emily Farrell, Kerry Kautz, Carol Sabarese, Meg Raymore, Dr. Haven Ritchie, Marianne Porter, Aimee and Lil Schaller, Catherine Macfee, Stephanie Rogerson, Laurel Lippert, Shirley Hale, Patti Florian, Bev Hovorka, Babette Haueisen, Betsy Heifetz, attorney Debbie Nicholson, Samantha Highfield, Terri Upshaw, Amanda and Woodie Woodruff, Nancy Cushing, Chris Basile, Pam Chamblin, Chiara Gajar (she organized the skiing Queens), Vikki Lawrence, Starr Walton Hurley, Janet Zipkin, Debbie Casey, Ann Lindeman and Judy Friedman.

and#8212; Vicki Kahn may be reached at vickikahn@sbcglobal.net


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