Diane Ferras co-chaired the Opera Gala with
her husband Dr. Ignacio A. Ferras, III, who is
an Opera Tampa League board member and a
David A. Straz Center trustee.
MAY/JUNE 2016
| TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 167
Bob and Nadine Pressner were among the
first couples to grace the dance floor following
dinner in the Ruth Silbiger Lobby of the
Straz Center’s Carol Morsani Hall.
Diane and Rob Klingel enjoyed touring backstage
and admiring the La Traviata set during
the Gala’s onstage cocktail reception.
Longtime Opera Tampa supporters Rose and
Al Schiff were happy that noted director
Tito Capobianco was the 2016 Anton Coppola
Excellence in the Arts Award recipient.
Dr. Joe and Elif Fitzgerald, owners of PureLife
Medi-Spa, were the determined winning bidders
for the Tampa Bay Lightning/Ben Bishop auction
package, since their first date was at a Lightning game.
Charlene and Mardy Gordon, who were
among the benefit’s underwriters, have become
ardent opera fans since being introduced
to Opera Tampa.
Christopher Still, talented modern master of
fine painting, and his wife, biologist Kelly Still,
enjoyed dining in the Straz Center’s elegantly
decorated Morsani Hall lobby.
Brad and Mary Ann Morse, who were among
the Opera Tampa underwriters, enjoyed sitting
at the table of Dr. Zena Lansky who, along
with her husband Warren Rodgers, was
also an underwriter.