The Georgetowner’s 70th Anniversary Cover Stars: Image Energy & Portrait Power
By • October 9, 2024 0 626
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been asked: “When will I be on the cover of The Georgetowner?” It’s a good question.
For decades now, this newspaper has sported a full-photo front page. It was not always like that. The Georgetowners during the ’50s, ’60s and part of the ’70s looked like your old standard papers with a few photos and homespun artwork. Of course, famous folks made the pages like the Kennedys, local politicians too, as well as ambassadors and royalty — along with scenes of the canal towpath or Potomac River. Images of buildings, maps and charts finished off the layout. Nothing too showy, but our neighbors Averell and Pamela Harriman didn’t mind.
Now in our splashier era, thanks to the talents of photographers and stylists including Philip Bermingham, Greg Blakey, David Kennerly, Jeff Malet, Fred Maroon, Lauretta McCoy, Neshan Naltchayan, Mary Noble Ours, Tony Powell, Patrick Ryan, Yvonne Taylor and a few staffers, The Georgetowner spends extra time on its graphics, and it shows.
The results are always worth it — and sometimes even spectacular.
The Georgetowner’s covers have highlighted politicians, philanthropists, artists, business leaders, educators, celebrities, chefs and, perhaps most importantly, everyday Georgetowners.
You may have glimpsed Jack & Jackie, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Marion Barry, Muriel Bowser, Vince Gray, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, RBG, Kitty Kelley, Tony Fauci, the Exorcist, Wolfgang Puck, Santa Claus, Madeleine Albright, Christian Zapatka, Avery Miller, Nefertiti, Bradley Cooper, Fred Ryan, Billy Martin, Michael Saylor, Mark Ein, Vincent De Paul, John and Kristin Cecchi, Colman Riddell, Michelle Korsmo, Amy Porter Stroh, Amy Baier, Jamie Dories, Cindy Jones, Robert Bell, Alexander Graham Bell, Michael Kahn, Sachiko Kuno, Kate Goodall, Scott and Jill Altman, Natalie Portman, Sid and Ann Mashburn, Anthony Lanier, Jim Kimsey, Antonial Atkins, Abraham Lincoln, Allyson Burkhardt, Frank Ruta, Frank Sinatra, Tom Davidson, Ralph Lauren, Jack and Theresa DeGioia, Amy Maniatis and Martin Gammon, Zubair and Shamin Popal, Jack Davies and Kay Kendall, Tom Anderson and Marc Schappell, Jennifer Romm, Tara Parker, Annie Liebovitz, Mickey Berra, George Stevens, Maziar and Shahab Farivar, Christie Brinkley, Charlize Theron — and the Nationals, too.
And we’re not even mentioning those cool modeling photos on the cover that catch your eye. And as for that first question, let us just say: “If you have to ask …”
The following are updates on just a few of the many individuals who have graced Georgetowner covers over the years.
Recent Covers
Dr. Fauci – Lucky G.U. students to learn from one of best.
Claire Wilder & Liz Baker– Exciting times for Georgetown! There are a few new businesses and many more coming, including Osteria Mozza by the Starr Restaurant Group (of Le Diplomat) in the former Dean & Deluca space opening in November.
Angel Gil Ordonez – Maestro Gil-Ordóñez is still going strong with the PostClassical Ensemble and serves as Director of Georgetown University’s Orchestra and Adjunct Professor of the Practice among many more things.
Ian Myers, Azali Kassum & Family — The Georgetown House Tour has been a staple for Georgetown and our cover story every April for as long as we can remember. Next year, she is chairing the tour or the patron’s party. They bought the former home of Sen. Robert Taft (R-OH) and are renovating it—we are eagerly awaiting a future Georgetown House Tour Patrons Party there … ha-ha.
Emily Sower, Kathryn Minor, Donna Leanos, Patrons Party Co-Chairs – Kudos to another great Georgetown House Tour Patrons Party with these lovely co-chairs.
Dr. Samir Khleif – Fortunately for all of us, he still works for Georgetown University’s Medical Center as an immunologist and immune therapist researcher and professor. The cure is sure to come with all the efforts through G.U.’s fundraising and research efforts. Have you supported the Third Annual BellRinger Bike Ride coming Oct. 25-26?
Fashion Santa – According to his Instagram profile, Fashion Santa, aka Paul Mason, still strives to embody the values of the real Santa: compassion, kindness and giving.
Fashion Santa’s November 2021 cover:
https://georgetowner.com/issuu/november-10-2021/
Philip Bermingham – A newlywed, grandfather, and his photo of RBG inspired an official USA postage stamp. He has photographed more than 45 covers for The Georgetowner.
President Joe Biden – President Biden, we thank you for your service and 50-plus years in public life.
Dr. Eleni Tousimis – Has moved to Florida and is still a board-certified general surgeon who is a nationally renowned specialist in breast cancer surgery.
Christian Zapatka – Zapatka winner of the prestigious Rome Award for Architecture has spent over two decades in business specializing in Georgetown renovations and is currently enjoying his new office on P Street NW, where he works with his brothers.
Sunny Sumter – Sumter, the president and CEO of the D.C. Jazz Fest, just celebrated the festival’s 25th anniversary.
Billy Martin – Martin’s Tavern is on the cover celebrating their 85th anniversary as they enter 91 years in business, and we’re looking forward to 100!
Bill Dean – Dean, third-generation CEO of the family business, MC Dean, a design-build and systems integration corporation. He is a philanthropist and fun fixture in the community.
Tycely Williams – In July she graced our cover as head of the Junior League of Washington and the first African American in that position. She’s now based in South Carolina.
Brindley Bros.– The brothers, who own Union Stage and Jammin Java, have welcomed big name acts to their Wharf and Vienna venues since it opened in December 2017.
Mayor Muriel Bowser – Is she our mayor for life? What about a fourth term?
Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. – He was on the cover as publisher of the Washington Post after Bezos purchased it. He is now chair of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute and is leading the launch of the new Center on Civility and Democracy. See his guest opinion on page 13.
Dr. Sachiko Kuno – Dr. Kuno is the steward of Evermay and Halcyon House and has been featured twice on the cover for her incredible contributions to Georgetown through her foundations.
Dr. Sachiko Kuno’s August 2013 cover:
https://georgetowner.com/issuu/2013-08-21/
Scott & Jill Altman – Our favorite Georgetown astronaut and his wife, who is very active in the community.
Rebecca Clerget – After helping found Dog Tag Bakery, which is still helping our vets and working with Georgetown University today, Clergent took over Cafe Triskele in Lee, Massachusetts.
Dale Overmyer – Along with his wife Melissa, the duo recovered from arson of their home and are enjoying their new home and gorgeous renovations. Dale’s architecture business is thriving in Georgetown and beyond.
Kitty Kelley – In addition to her popular book club column in this newspaper, she gave $1 million to Biographers International. Kelley is also a philanthropist for many great causes, including the Georgetown Citizens Association.
Mark Ein – A venture capitalist and success story, founded the Washington Kastles tennis team in 2008, has chaired the DC Open since 2019, is a limited partner of the Washington Commanders, owns the Washington City Paper and owns the famed Katharine Graham House (aka the Beall-Washington House).
Nancy Taylor Bubes – Nancy is still one of the top real estate agents in Georgetown and a big contributor to the community
Salvatore Ferragamo, Jr. – Ferragamo, Jr. living the good life, calling himself a “winemaker by passion” in his Instagram profile (@salvatore_ferragamo_jr).
Outerbridge Horsey – Horsey continues to work as a talented architect in Georgetown.
Placido Domingo – After women accused him of harassment in 2020, Domingo resigned from the U.S. union that represents opera singers. He contributed $500,000 to sexual harassment eradication programs, as well as a fund that helps opera employees who are in crisis.
Franco Nuschese– The co-founder of Café Milano is still running the 30-plus year-old Georgetown institution.
Louis Everard – Owner of Everard’s Clothing on Wisconsin Avenue with his wife, Jennifer Nygard; they maintain a classic clothing boutique.
David Berkebile – Dave, considered our “little brother,” has owned Georgetown Tobacco for 60 years. He is like family to us.
Stephanie Bothwell & Frank Babb Randolph – Frank is a retired designer, and Stephanie is still going strong with volunteer work including Citizens Association of Georgetown and her landscape design business.
Jack Evans – Former councilmember for 30 years, Ward 2, left his position after facing multiple ethics investigations. Remains active in D.C.
Barack & Michelle Obama – Still an inspiration, the former president and first lady have a home in Kalorama neighborhood.
Barack and Michelle Obama’s January 2013 cover:
https://georgetowner.com/issuu/2013-01-30/
Marc Schappell & Tom Anderson – Schappell and Anderson, co-owners of Washington Fine Properties along with Dana Landry and Bill Moody, celebrated 25 years of WFP in June of this year.
Maria & Fabio Trabocchi,– Now divorced, Maria is living in Spain in her mother country with her daughter, while Chef Fabio is still running Fiola Mare and the restaurant empire.
Jack DeGioia – Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack DeGioia as he recovers from a stroke. You can send your well wishes to him here: DeGioia Family, c/o Georgetown University President’s Office, 207 Healy Hall, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, D.C. 20057
Kristin & John Cecchi – The Cecchis are prominent in the D.C. social scene as well as home designers and philanthropists. Barry and Marla Beck – These amazing entrepreneurs are just two of many to start their retail cosmetics business model in Georgetown. They sold BlueMercury to Macy’s for $210 million in cash.
Scott & Patty Ivey – Patty, now a cancer survivor, lives in Massachusetts on the ocean and still owns Down Dog Yoga on 34th Street.
Karen Ohri, Samantha Hays, and Hope Solomon – Karen, (our twin-sister- business also 70 years old) is the owner of Georgetown Floor Coverings and running the family business, while her father Ron enjoys living the retired life. In our cover story, her son Jayson was just 2 years old. He is now 15, playing lacrosse, and his siblings are 21 and 26, both GMU grads. Hays, also a third-generation owner, is running the popular boutique, The Phoenix. 26. Solomon also graced the cover in Oct. 2015 issue posing as Regan from “The Exorcist” on the famous stairs, just in time for Halloween.
Wes & Betty Foster – In 1968, Paul Wesley “Wes” Foster, co-founder of Long & Foster Real Estate, which became the country’s largest independent real estate brokerage by sales volume, died on March 17, 2023, at the age of 89.
Madeleine Albright — who immigrated to the U.S. in 1948 and in the 1990s become United Nations ambassador, then the first woman to serve as secretary of state — died on March 23, 2022, at age 84. She taught at Georgetown University starting in 1982.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Nicknamed “Notorious RBG” for her fierce dissents, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve as a Supreme Court associate justice — and the first Jewish woman — died in Sept. 18 2020 at age 87. Earlier, from 1980 to 1993, she was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and lived at the Watergate.
Michel Richard – Born and raised in France, chef-restaurateur Michel Richard — who died of complications of a stroke on Aug. 13, 2016, at age 68 — found fame in the nation’s capital in 1993 when he opened Citronelle on M Street NW in Georgetown’s Latham Hotel.
Buzz Beler – Constantine “Buzz” Beler, founder of the Prime Rib Restaurant on K Street died in Oct. 23, 2019. The legendary restaurateur once went after patrons who skipped out on a big bill, and he caught them at Cafe Milano.
Pierre Salinger – Press secretary to President Kennedy, Salinger wrote a column for The Georgetowner from 1998 to 2002. He left the U.S. after President George W. Bush’s election and died on Oct. 16, 2004, in France.
John F. Kennedy – The 35th president lived in Georgetown for many years before moving to the White House. Our town has been called Kennedyland.
*** Links to our cover stars are all available online in this issue, and in our archive are all issues dating back to 2010. We are working on digitizing all Georgetowner issues since 1954.
