On the Town: Retiring Woodbury president enjoys fond send-off

“I have had the opportunity to write several new chapters in the evolving Woodbury University history,” said the school’s retiring president, Kenneth Nielsen. “The success the school has achieved (is) a result of the hard work, action, and vision of so many of my friends and colleagues.”

Many of those friends and colleagues gathered at the Jonathan Club to pay tribute to Nielsen this past Saturday evening. After his 16 years at the helm of the Glenoaks Boulevard university, Nielsen announced he would be stepping down from the presidential post last year.

Among those who were in attendance for the send-off that included the announcement of the establishment of a scholarship in Nielsen’s name, were the outgoing president’s wife, Rose Nielsen, the university’s chairman of the board of trustees, Robert Kummer, Jr., and Chairman Emeritus Richard King.

Notables among the board of trustees, president’s cabinet and executive council members and deans who enjoyed the evening were Seta Javor, Don St. Clair, Raymond Adams, Tillie J. Baptie, Gregory Bowman and Kay Farquhar.

This past weekend also saw residents of Burbank, Toluca Lake and Glendale join in as the Tam O'Shanter — the oldest family-owned restaurant in Los Angeles — celebrated its 90th Anniversary.

Located on Los Feliz Boulevard in Atwater Village, “the Tam” opened on June 26, 1922, and became one of the first restaurants in the country to offer drive-in service. Named after the famous Robert Burns poem and adorned from floor to ceiling with Scottish décor, the dining establishment was founded by Lawrence L. Frank and Water Van de Kamp. During the 1920s, the eatery became a popular celebrity hangout with regulars that included Rudolph Valentino, Fatty Arbuckle, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Gloria Swanson and Walt Disney.

Last Friday evening's celebration began with a formal ceremony honoring three generations of Frank and Van de Kamp family members including former California Attorney General John Van De Camp, Richard N., Richard R., Susie and Ralph Frank, Ryan Wilson and Diana Van de Kamp.

Among the notables and locals who enjoyed the evening of dining and memories were Academy Award-winning actress Margaret O’Brien, Barry and Stanley Livingston of “My Three Sons” fame, Erin Murphy who played the role of Tabitha on “Bewitched,” actress Beverly D'Angelo who is best known for her role as Ellen Griswold in the National Lampoon “Vacation” films and Kate Linder of “The Young & the Restless.” Others in attendance included Walter Moore, Annet Peairs and Max Andrews.

DAVID LAURELL can be reached by e-mail dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.