Social Seens... Photography by Gram
Maestro’s Fabulous 50th
The St. Petersburg Opera Company held a surprise party for Maestro Mark Sforzini to celebrate his 50th birthday. Fifty major
donors spent an evening with the maestro and shared his birthday cake with him. This gracious evening was filled with music,
food, drinks and friendships, as this forever young genius celebrated a landmark year.
Belinda Dumont and Al May are two of
St. Petersburg Opera’s staunchest
proponents and dearest friends
of the maestro.
Photography by Gram and Noraa
Jim and Char Rillings are loyal supporters
of the St. Petersburg Opera, who came
to wish Mark well, as he reached his
golden year.
Maestro Mark Sforzini, artistic and executive
director of the St. Petersburg Opera Company,
was delighted to share his celebration with
his partner Michael Roberts.
Cuban Ambassador Visits Rotary
Filiberto Valero, president of the Tampa Rotary Club, welcomed Jose Ramón Cabañas, the first Cuban ambassador to the
United States since 1961, to a lunch hosted by the club at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Cabañas, who has served as the
Cuban ambassador to this country since 2015, when diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored, gave a short
talk before answering questions from the capacity crowd of Rotarians from various Tampa Bay area clubs and their guests.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 163
Rotarian John Gallant thanked Dr. Sandra
Lilo for introducing the ambassador at
the luncheon and for her service to Cuba
through the Seminole Lake Rotary Club.
Cuban Ambassador José Ramón Cabañas was thanked
for visiting Tampa by Al Fox, president of the Alliance
for Responsible Cuba Policy Foundation.
Super lawyer Steve Yerrid asked
Ambassador Cabañas a complex
question that was answered
with humor and logic, as the
ambassador admitted he did not
know the full answer.