VNA Health Mother’s Day Luncheon honoree Leslie Person Ryan, left, and Suzette Chafey, representing her mother, the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who also was honored at the event.
VNA Health Mother’s Day Luncheon honoree Leslie Person Ryan, left, and Suzette Chafey, representing her mother, the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who also was honored at the event. Credit: Monie Photography photo

The 23rd annual VNA Health Mother’s Day Luncheon took on special significance this year as it honored two remarkable women from different generations, the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree and Leslie Person Ryan, for their visionary contributions to the Santa Barbara community.

Held at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort on May 10, the event celebrated mothers and caregivers while raising funds for VNA Health’s community care programs.

With Andrew Firestone as the masterful emcee, the luncheon brought together generations of supporters.

Among those he introduced were VNA Health president and CEO Kieran Shah; Dr. Kurt Ransohoff, president of Sutter Health in the greater Central Coast; VNA Health home health care director Jadona Collier; and VNA Health senior hospice director Sena Woodall.

  • The VNA Health Board of Directors, from left, Vince Caballero, Pamela Dillman Haskell, Eusebio Cordova, Judy Murphy, president and CEO Kieran Shah, Janice Larson and board chairman Ben Phillips.
    The VNA Health Board of Directors, from left, Vince Caballero, Pamela Dillman Haskell, Eusebio Cordova, Judy Murphy, president and CEO Kieran Shah, Janice Larson and board chairman Ben Phillips. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • Suzette Chafey, daughter of the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, is flanked by her children, Nahtahna Cabanes, right, and Xaloc Cabanes.
    Suzette Chafey, daughter of the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, is flanked by her children, Nahtahna Cabanes, right, and Xaloc Cabanes. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • VNA Health Mother’s Day Luncheon honoree Leslie Person Ryan, left, and Suzette Chafey, representing her mother, the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who also was honored at the event.
    VNA Health Mother’s Day Luncheon honoree Leslie Person Ryan, left, and Suzette Chafey, representing her mother, the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who also was honored at the event. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • VNA Health Mother’s Day Luncheon honoree Leslie Person Ryan.
    VNA Health Mother’s Day Luncheon honoree Leslie Person Ryan. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • Leslie Person Ryan, center, with VNA Health president and CEO Kieran Shah and Ilene Nagel.
    Leslie Person Ryan, center, with VNA Health president and CEO Kieran Shah and Ilene Nagel. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • Sporting bold hats from the collection of the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree are, from left, Hiroko Benko, Jennie Strait, Erin Graffy and Marie Ann Strait.
    Sporting bold hats from the collection of the late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree are, from left, Hiroko Benko, Jennie Strait, Erin Graffy and Marie Ann Strait. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • Anne Towbes, left, and Lynda Weinman.
    Anne Towbes, left, and Lynda Weinman. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • Rod Lathim, left, and Bobby Lesser provide a musical tribute.
    Rod Lathim, left, and Bobby Lesser provide a musical tribute. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • Emcee Andrew Firestone.
    Emcee Andrew Firestone. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • Erin Graffy, the celebrity auctioneer for the afternoon.
    Erin Graffy, the celebrity auctioneer for the afternoon. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • VNA Health supporters.
    VNA Health supporters. Credit: Monie Photography photo
  • From left, Leslie Person Ryan, Moises Contreras, VNA Health chaplain Martha Saavedra and John Daly.
    From left, Leslie Person Ryan, Moises Contreras, VNA Health chaplain Martha Saavedra and John Daly. Credit: Monie Photography photo

Leslie Ridley-Tree

Ridley-Tree — a mother, grandmother and passionate philanthropist who died in 2022 — was recognized for her lifelong advocacy in art, education, health care and music.

Her grandchildren and daughter, Suzette Chafey, who worked as a VNA Health hospice nurse for 10 years, paid tribute to Ridley-Tree’s enduring legacy of care and generosity.

In a touching moment, a musical video featuring Margaret Whiting’s “Time After Time” accompanied a compilation of Ridley-Tree’s vibrant life, leaving few dry eyes in the room.

Chafey shared how her mother — and her late husband, Paul — often gave anonymously, guided by the belief that “running a successful business meant she had more means to give more.”

Leslie Person-Ryan

The second honoree, Leslie Person Ryan, a visionary entrepreneur and food resilience hero, was lauded for her efforts in ensuring food security for her community.

After the deadly Montecito flash flooding and debris flows left Summerland a food desert in early 2018, Person Ryan established a farm on a seven-acre plot, providing a healthy local food source.

Her commitment to building food resilience extended to delivering weekly groceries to a hospice patient’s family, even after the parent’s passing.

Recently, she was awarded the 2024 Local Food Hero award by the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network for her dedication to the cause, alongside running her Summerland retail store, Farm to Paper.

As John Daly introduced Person Ryan, she shared that her greatest rewards are her children, Otto, Tally and Peg.

She was presented with the Caring Mother Award, a sculpture by the late renowned artist Aris Demetrios, generously donated by his wife, Ilene Nagel.

VNA Impacts

The luncheon also featured live music by Gil Rosas; a live auction deftly led by Noozhawk Talk of the Town columnist Erin Graffy, who donned one of Ridley-Tree’s trademark hats for the occasion; and a silent raffle.

Centerpieces, designed by Hogue & Co. with vegetables from Person Ryan’s Sweet Wheel Farm & Flowers, added a touch of elegance and sustainability to the event.

VNA Health, California’s third-oldest visiting nurse association, provides more than $2.7 million annually in charitable community care.

The Mother’s Day Luncheon’s net proceeds support these vital programs, ensuring continued access to quality health-care services for those in need. Among its crucial programs are Serenity House and the Loan Closet.

As the event celebrated the indelible impact and vision of Ridley-Tree and Person Ryan, it also served as a heartfelt reminder of the power of compassion, resilience and a commitment to making the world a better place.

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Judy Foreman is a Noozhawk columnist and longtime local writer and lifestyles observer. She can be contacted at news@noozhawk.com. The opinions expressed are her own.