It was a lovely day; the sun shining, the snow all but gone, and the St. Regis Rooftop filled up with many of the city’s most influential A-listers. They were all there to congratulate Susan Bloomberg, ex of Mayor Mike, on receiving The American Cancer Society’s “Mother of the Year” award. Daughters Emma, 23, and Georgina, 20, fielded questions like seasoned pros and smiled for the paparazzi. Included in the power pack: New York’s First Lady Libby Pataki, Vera Wang, Jamee Gregory, Paula Zahn, Donald Distasio, Playwright Tricia Walsh-Smith, Heather Randall (Tony’s wife), Barbara Hazkett, David Patrick Columbia, and opera virtuoso Anna Moffo Sarnoff.
Libby Pataki was next in line to praise Susan, opening with a comment on these troubling times. “In times where we are told to go out and buy duct tape and plastic sheeting one day, and then told to return the duct tape and plastic sheeting the next …” The crowd laughed as she continued her thoughtful, sobering speech focused on the need to tackle fear and take on the truly important battles in life. Turning her attention to Susan, she said, “I would say her ability to adapt to new things is her greatest accomplishment, but that would be wrong. [Her daughters] Emma and Georgina are her greatest accomplishments.” She stood tall, then dramatically introduced the woman of the hour, Susan Bloomberg. That’s when ex-hubby Mayor Mike took the stage.
“As mayor of the city of New York I can insert myself here,” he responded to the laughter. “And as mayor, I can also take credit for the good weather. Didn’t my snow removal program work so well?” Everyone applauded. “Usually at these events, I show up for 10 minutes and talk about who knows what, but this one is different—I’ve been here for three hours. I helped set the table, arrange the flowers, later I’ll be bussing the tables and in the kitchen,” Hizzoner quipped, “Which is exactly what you do when the Mother of the Year also happens to be the mother of your children.” (The two met in 1973, married in 1976, and divorced in 1995.) Mayor Mike then turned his attention to the fight against cancer and his own political strategies. “Thirty-seven thousand New Yorkers will die this year of cancer-related deaths. One-third of those will be related to smoking and second-hand smoke,” he stated, discussing his smoking ban, which received a standing ovation. “Hopefully,” he said, cutting off the cheers, “there will be a time when these luncheons stop.” He then welcomed Susan to the podium.
Visibly moved, Susan Bloomberg rose to the ovation of her esteemed peers. “I must say,” she began in her sweet English accent, “I was quite shocked when I was told I had won Mother of the Year. Now, had it been the American Society of Divorce lawyers calling to say I had won best ex-wife of the year, that I could have understood.” The room roared. “It gives me great personal pride in being the first Mother of the Year who is just a mother. Motherhood is a 24-hour-a-day job, seven days a week, a position that defies all rational job descriptions.” She also spoke of the values she has worked to imbue in her daughters, including the need for charity—not only in the home, but also within organizations like The American Cancer Society. Labeling cancer “an obscene disease,” she also backs the new smoking ban. “As you can see we don’t like second-hand smoke very much in our family.” Wrapping up the lovely luncheon, Susan graciously thanked her ex-hubby “because without him, I wouldn’t have my beautiful girls and couldn’t be Mother of the Year.”
