The Annual Halsey House Gala

The Southampton History Museum held its annual Halsey House Gala at the Halsey House & Garden in Southampton on July 1, as the nation prepared to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The gala, co-chaired by Jean Shafiroff and Mary Slattery and emceed by Bill McCuddy, ironically invited guests to celebrate the founding of the country in a setting that predates it. Halsey House is a connection to the early colonial era, Southampton life under British rule and the generations that helped shape the East End.

Averitt Buttry with the co-chairs Jean Shafiroff and Mary Slattery (photo credit: Rob Rich/ SocietyAlllure.com)

Proceeds support the Southampton History Museum’s mission to preserve and educate new generations about local history and culture through its unique historic sites, archives, collections, and public programs. Among the live auction items were glassware from Asprey and a painting by Hunt Slonem, which attracted strong bidding to aid the Museum’s fund-raising efforts.

Kevin Donnelly family (Photo credit: PMC/Sean Zanni)

Notable Attendees included Jean Shafiroff, Mary Slattery, Bill McCuddy, Bill Manger, Rebecca Seawright, Meg McCartney and James McCartney, Dede Gotthelf and Terry Moan, Steven Stolman & Rich Wilkie, Mark Lemerise & Morgan Suckow, Noel Hare & Deborah Herrick Hare, Jeff Pfeiffle & David Granville, Quinn Pofahl & Jaime Jimenez, Leighton Candler, Ruth Miller, Elizabeth Mohtares, Tim Pontarelli, Sally Van Erk, and Barbara Zweig.

Michele Goffin, Quinn Pofahl (photo credit: PMC/Sean Zanni)

Key Supporters for the 2026 Halsey House Gala included:

Platinum

Fiona & Stan Druckenmiller, The Derfner Foundation, Jean and Martin Shafiroff, and the M. Sullivan Fund (in memory of Marge Sullivan)

Kathy Prounis (Photo creditL PMC: Sean Zanni)

Gold

Susan K. Allen, George & Leslie Biddle, Ann Marie Carr, Judi & Kevin Donnelly (in memory of Marie Donnelly), Southampton Inn, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.