Social Seens... Photography by Gram
The Queen of Hearts Ball
The Queen of Hearts Ball, the only fundraiser of the all-volunteer Queen’s Court Inc. of St. Petersburg, is now in its 62nd year.
It honors women of exemplary service and volunteerism who have been nominated by local charitable and social organizations.
From those nominated, six are selected as princesses to the Queen’s Royal Court. A queen is chosen each year from a past court
by an anonymous group of community leaders. This year’s ball, co-chaired by Rebecca Malowany and Joy Rudnicki, benefited
Boley Centers and the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Nora Pearson was chosen as queen, and Gentry Adams, Barbara
Deininger, Cynthia Gramberg, Pamela Hatton, Celma Mastry and Mary Reed were her princesses. Don Juceam emceed and
provided dance music with his orchestra, while television personality Rhonda Shear and Home Shopping Network star Bobbi
Ray Carter served as auctioneers.
146 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2020
The 2015 Queen of Hearts and current vice
president of the Queen’s Court, Mary Maloof,
and her husband Ed were happy to be
sponsors of the 2020 Queen of Hearts Ball.
2020 Queen of Hearts Nora Pearson and
her husband Paul thanked the court for
recognizing her dedication and service to the
community.
Dr. Jack Critchfield and his wife Mary, who
was a princess in the 2000 Queen’s Court,
believe in the mission of the Queen’s Court to
help raise funds for local charities.
Fred Bullard supports his wife Karol, who was
president of the Queen’s Court in 2007-2008,
was the 2005 Queen of Hearts, and also served
on this year’s Queen of Hearts Ball committee.
St. Petersburg’s Mayor Rick Kriseman
and his wife Kerry lent their support to
this important evening of fundraising for
two of St. Petersburg’s most deserving
organizations.
Peggy Leclerc, a member of the 2020 Queen
of Hearts committee and a princess in
the 2019 Court, and her husband Keith
were sponsors of the ball through their
International Diamond Center.