Henry Segerstrom, you old so-and-so

This is a really lovely little article about a Los Angeles man who is deeply committed to the arts.

Segerstrom Adds $10 Million Gift to O.C.
Performing Arts Center

The third gift from philanthropist brings the center closer to its
$200-million fundraising goal.

Henry T. Segerstrom, Orange County's leading arts philanthropist, said Monday that he and his wife, Elizabeth, were making a third major donation — this time "just a little over $10 million" — to the Orange County Performing Arts Center to fund a concert hall set to open Friday.

The Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, named after Segerstrom and his previous wife, who died six years ago, will seat 2,002.

The couple's gift brings the amount raised to $151 million, a center spokeswoman said, giving the difficult, seven-year effort a home-stretch boost toward its $200-million goal.

Segerstrom, 83, said he committed his previous $40-million gift within days of the June 2000 death of Renee at age 72 after a long illness. He said Monday that sorrow prompted him to make a far bigger donation than either he or center officials had expected.

In early July 2000, Segerstrom met Elizabeth, his third wife, as they were dining in a Manhattan restaurant. The couple were married three weeks later.

"She has been such an important part of the design and construction," Segerstrom said. "The two of us wanted to do some more, and I wanted her to have that recognition." Elizabeth Segerstrom is chairing this weekend's gala celebrations Friday and Saturday. The Pacific Symphony will be joined by opera star Placido Domingo on opening night, and by violinist Midori the second ni--

Wait a second. Something was a little bit odd, back there. Let's take another look:

Segerstrom, 83, said he committed his previous $40-million gift within days of the June 2000 death of [wife] Renee at age 72 after a long illness. He said Monday that sorrow prompted him to make a far bigger donation than either he or center officials had expected.

In early July 2000, Segerstrom met Elizabeth, his third wife, as they were dining in a Manhattan restaurant. The couple were married three weeks later.

Huh. Well, wow! Didn't waste much time there, did you, Henry?

But we shouldn't judge the poor man-- obviously, these two must really be in love, like a real modern-day fairy tale. I mean, for the grieving widower, the sorrowing husband, to meet and marry a new woman within weeks of his wife's death? It must have been magic, they must have just had the most incredible connection, and found that they had so much in common, because otherwise, what possible reason could there b--

Henry and Elizabeth Segerstrom

Oh.