Hats Off Bash: Honoring Edith and Loet Velmans
It will be Hats Off on October 9 in honor of two of our area's most distinguished residents: Edith and Loet Velmans, of Sheffield, who will receive LitNet's second annual Founders of America award. LitNet will present the award at its annual benefit gala, the Hats Off Bash, to be held at Fitzpatrick Hall on the campus of Berkshire Country Day School in Lenox and Stockbridge. LitNet established the Founders of America award last year to honor the contributions of all immigrants to our communities. The first recipient was Nabih Nejaime, of Stockbridge, who built successful local businesses after emigrating to the United States from Lebanon in 1955. The Bash begins at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, followed by presentation of the award to the Velmans. A sit-down, international buffet-style feast featuring superb cuisine from local restaurants and caterers will begin at 7:00 p.m., followed by dancing until the hour of sore feet. Diane Patrick, the First Lady of Massachusetts, is the Honorary Chair. Hats (on or off) are optional, but willingness to have a good time – while supporting a great cause – is not. Ticket prices remain the same as in previous years: $100 per person for general admission or $250 per person as a Hats Off Honored Guest. Tickets are available by calling the LitNet office at 413-243-0471, or online at www.litnetsb.org The Velmans: Special Friends
Born and raised in The Netherlands, the Velmans emigrated to the United States in 1951 and achieved success in their respective fields: Edith as a geriatric psychotherapist and gerontologist; Loet as Chairman and CEO Hill & Knowlton, an international public relations and public affairs firm headquartered in New York. Each has written a memoir about their very different experiences during World War II. Edith's Story: The True Story of a Young Girl's Courage and Survival During World War II was first published in 1997 and has been translated into ten languages, including a Chinese edition which will appear in 2010. Long Way Back to the River Kwai: Memories of World War II by Loet Velmans, published in 2003, was a selection of the History Book Club, and translations were published in three European countries. Now retired, the Velmans live in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and have become active, supporting members of the Berkshires community. They have three daughters (one of whom, Hester, also lives in Sheffield) and five grandchildren and have been married 61 years.
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