Kirsti Westphalen (right), Consul General of Finland to the U.S., and her husband Abdellatif Moufakkir, along with Former American Ambassador to Finland Derek Schearer and his wife Sue Toigo, pose in the former consulate office of Y.A. "George" Paloheimo in Fenyes Mansion. Photo: James Staub.

PMH Trustee and 2012 Contemporary History Maker Honoree William F. Kruse (left) presents award to Paul Halme, President of The Paloheimo Foundation.  Photo: James Staub.

George Martin (left) enjoys the festivities with Benefit Committee member Fran Shellgren and

Jim Watterson, Honorary Chair and our 2010 CHM Honoree.  Photo: James Staub.

George Paloheimo, Jr., great-great grandson of Eva Fenyes with his wife JoyLynn.

Photo: Terry Miller.

Fenyes Mansion & The Paloheimo Foundation

The 1906 Beaux Arts Fenyes Mansion is unique historically, having housed four generations of the Fenyes-Curtin-Paloheimo family, with the original décor of the early 1900s preserved largely unchanged.  In 1970, the Curtin-Paloheimo family gave the impressive Fenyes art and antique collection to the Museum.  Today the legacy of this philanthropic family is carried on by the Paloheimo Foundation.  For over two years the Foundation has generously funded a major renovation project spending more than 1.7 million dollars on the interior and exterior of the Mansion. Together the Foundation and the Museum present the Fenyes Mansion to the public, interweaving the story of the remarkable Fenyes-Curtin-Paloheimo family with information about the architectural details, fine antique furnishings and artwork, and social customs of the early twentieth century.

2012 Contemporary History Makers

Each year the Museum honors select individuals, businesses, or corporations whose civic passion, innovative design, or charitable interests continue to shape Pasadena's unique and rich heritage.  This year we are honoring seven current and former Museum Trustees who have contributed to the success of the multi-year Fenyes Mansion renovation project.

2012 Honorees, left to right: Don Fedde, Karen Craig, William F. Kruse, Laura Thompson,

Fred G. Zepeda, Janet Kadin, Randolph G. Wilson.  Photo by Zach Mejia.

Contemporary History Makers 2000 - 2011

2011

Wells Fargo

Jane & Dan Armel

Peggy & Bruce Stewart

2010

Jim Watterson

2009

Larry Mantle

Denise Nelson Nash

Sid & Betsey Tyler

2008

Christle Balvin

Charles & Betty McKenney

Joel Sheldon,III

Larry Wilson

2007
Ann Hassett & Bob Niemack
Harvey & Ellen Knell
Phil & Sally Swan
Ian & Regina Whitcomb

2006
Ann & André Chaves
Brenda & Bill Galloway

2005
Bob Ray Offenhauser

2004
NASA/JPL’s Mars Exploration Team

2003
Claire W. Bogaard
Gene A. Buchanan
Marilyn Dee Buchanan
Don F. McIntrye
Dan L. Mellinkoff
Larry B. Morrison
Sue N. Mossman
James R. Plotkin*
Marsha V. Rood
John P. Wilson

2002
David Baltimore, Ph.D.
George Ellery Hale*
William Pickering, Ph.D.*
Maxine D. Singer, Ph.D.

2001
Iwan Serrurier*
Mark Serrurier*

2000
Harry Usher*

*deceased