R S V P / ORANGE COUNTY : Couples Love It at One From the Heart (Assn.)

Whether it was the champagne, the romantic music or the pink tulips, by the time the Valentine’s Day benefit at the Balboa Bay Club was over Tuesday, at least one couple was engaged, while others celebrated marriages that were anywhere from one week to more than 30 years old.

“Toujours L’Amour. . . Romance by the Bay” was the theme of the Newport Beach benefit staged by the club and the Orange County American Heart Assn., Newport-Mesa Division. The $100-per-person gala attracted 130 people, most of them couples, to the club’s newly renovated ballroom and was expected to net about $10,000 for the local heart association.

Affair to Remember

Henry Schielein, Balboa Bay Club president, played the role of Cupid, making sure the evening had all of the ingredients of a romantic Valentine’s dinner.

“There are flowers and champagne--what else do you want?” he quipped.

Bouquets of pink and silver heart-shaped balloons floated above ballroom tables adorned with pink tulips. Guests sipped from champagne flutes filled with Perrier-Jouet. Murray Korda and his orchestra played Gershwin favorites and other romantic tunes.

Romance was on the minds of many party-goers. Richard and Beryl Goward were celebrating their one-week anniversary. They found each other after both had lost their spouses. A widower, Richard called the former Beryl King after hearing that her husband had died.

“We’re proof that life continues. There’s always that silver cloud,” said Beryl Goward, dressed in a black and red lace dress.

Joyce Palmer, an elegant lady in red, and Bill Ballreich were among those caught up in the romantic ambience; they got engaged during the benefit.

“It just seemed so appropriate that I got on my knees and begged, and she accepted,” Ballreich said. “I’m the happiest guy here tonight.”

Sweetheart Couple

Alex and Barbara Bowie, the evening’s honorary chairmen, met in college and are still going strong after 38 years of marriage. Barbara Bowie explained the secret of the couple’s successful relationship:

“It’s a lot of give and take--and a little luck.”

She also explained the couple’s support for the heart association as well as numerous Orange County charities: “Anything we can do to help people in need is worthwhile.”

Guests enjoyed a five-course dinner that included shrimp and avocado in a Louis sauce, tournedos of beef tenderloin and a heart-shaped chocolate torte. Between courses they waltzed on the dance floor.

“This will become an annual event,” said Beverly Ray, chairwoman of the board of the International Bay Clubs Inc. Proceeds will go to the heart association’s efforts to fund cardiovascular research and to educational programs of the association’s Newport-Mesa division.

Also among the guests were Robert Burns, president of the American Heart Assn., Newport-Mesa division, and his wife, Cindy; actor Gordon Jump, formerly of “WKRP in Cincinnati,” and his wife, Betty; Robert Fontanilla, division director; David and Marilyn Wooten, Buzz and Lois Aldrin, Richard and Marilyn Hauseman, Charles and Nora Hester, Gordon and Betty Jump, Margo Chamberlin, Bruce and Celia Nott, Bill and Peg Bonner, Richard and Sandy Sewell and Maria Crutcher.