Behind the Curtain - Spring 2010

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Curtain S A N F R A NCIS C O O PERA

B E H I N D

T H E

A P u b l i c at i o n E x c l u s i v e ly f o r Sa n F r a n c i s c o Ope r a C o n t r i b u t o r s

Assuring a Strong Future E n d o w m e n t D o n o r s B a r b a r a Wa rd a n d R o y Wo n d e r G i v e i n M a n y Wa y s

“We have to perpetuate this fabulous tradition of opera.” — Barbara Ward

Letter from David Gockley on page two

W

hen retired San Francisco Judge Hon. Roy L. Wonder married Barbara Ward in 2007, he brought more than his love and devotion to the union. “He brought symphony tickets!” says Barbara. Likewise, Barbara shared her longtime San Francisco Opera passion and subscription with Roy, turning him into a self-professed “very interested, you could say aggressive, fan of opera.” Barbara and Roy support San Francisco Opera in nearly every possible role. This year, they are sponsoring their second Adler Fellow. Barbara is a charter member of the Medallion Society, which recognizes Opera donors contributing at least $3,000 annually, and a founding member of Opera Action in Marin County. She has served on the Opera’s Board of Directors since 1969.

Many years ago, Barbara wrote a bequest to San Francisco Opera in her will, making her a member of the Bel Canto Society, which honors the Opera’s many legacy donors. More recently, the couple made an endowment gift to the Opera’s future. “We have to perpetuate this fabulous tradition of opera,” Barbara says about the decision to make an endowment gift. “It helps with David Gockley’s long range planning to know that there is financial support behind him. It’s a worthy cause, and it’s the one closest to my heart.” Roy adds, “There are many civic, cultural and charitable organizations to which I donate, but opera is obviously the top of my list. It requires long-range planning to support such an important community activity. It’s not something you can give to one year and then fade away the next and expect it to survive. You have to think well down the road and provide a gift that lives beyond your lifetime whenever possible.” In her youth, Barbara studied piano. Her mother was a pianist who played daily. In her junior year at Mills College, she attended her first live production: Aida at San Francisco Opera. Years later as an opera volunteer, she founded Opera Action in Marin County when General Director Kurt Herbert Adler asked her to help set up an opera preview series. These events featured singers, critics and other prominent opera personalities speaking and introducing upcoming productions. “At my invitation, Jess Thomas, Speight Jenkins, John Rockwell, Robert Weede and others appeared,” Barbara says. In 1958, Barbara began to attend San Francisco Opera with her first husband Edmond (Ned), becoming full subscribers over the years. At first, their tickets were in the last row of the balcony. “Ultimately we improved our seats until we’d sat in nearly every section, and every series over time,” she says. For information about making a legacy gift to San Francisco Opera, contact our planned giving staff at (415) 565-3225 or go to sfopera. planyourlegacy.org

Barbara Ward and Roy Wonder and Adler Fellow Tamara Wapinsky, whom they sponsored in 2008 and 2009. Photo by Kristen Loken