“IF YOU LIVE WITHOUT RISK, you risk not living.” ... “What I do is moral, legal, ethical and necessary.” ... “We have learned that patients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

THESE WORDS came from a doctor who loved women, trusted women to make the “intellectually, emotional, spiritual ... decisions, including abortion, that are appropriate for themselves.”

DR. GEORGE TILLER, WHO HAD BEEN SHOT in 1993 by a crazed housewife holding a Bible, carried on his compassionate, dangerous work healing women despite being wounded in both arms. Sixteen years later, on May 31, he was murdered in his church where he served as an usher.

AS AN EXPERT IN MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE, Dr. Tiller provided late-term pregnancy termination when fetuses with tragic vital organ defects, only partial brain development, or other problems left risk of further complication so probable that there would be no chance of survival. The deteriorating health of pregnant women, from many causes, was another valid reason for late-term abortions.

HUNDREDS OF PERSONAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE SUPPORTERS crowded the Hilton grand ballroom last week to mark the 20th year of this dedicated, pro-choice political powerhouse and to see Jeanne Tiller, the doctor’s widow, receive a Lifetime Achievement award. Longtime pro-choice advocate Prudence Beidler was cheered with a Spirit of Choice award.

“WE CANNOT LET THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT be the only religious group evaluating pro-choice,” she said. As a church-goer she challenged others to use their beliefs to further the pro-choice agenda, and Beidler was given a standing ovation.

SCOTT ROEDER, an unstable drifter, is accused of shooting Dr. Tiller, but blood is on other hands as well. Anti-abortion Web sites likened Tiller to infamous Nazi Josef Mengele. Bill O’Reilly often called Dr. Tiller “Tiller the Baby Killer” on his TV show.

A PRODUCTIVE AND HONORABLE LIFE WAS TAKEN by ignorant, violent hate-filled bullets and words. Nobody has an abortion for the fun of it. Poor women with several kids and no money for birth control often get pregnant. Girls and women get raped, and get pregnant. Incest is taboo but produces babies. Every woman has the right to decide her fate. Sisters, we are all victims with the death of Dr. Tiller. He loved us, trusted us, healed us. We must never be victims again.

Gossip, gossip, gossip

WHO IS THE RICH SUBURBAN SOCIALITE who charges her household help 50 cents for each bologna sandwich they eat? But Cokes are only 25 cents.

WHO IS THE SUAVE, HANDSOME BACHELOR who invites girlfriends to dinner with the announcement, “Diamonds are optional.” (Fortunately, he has given them diamond earrings and bracelets but no one has “that ring” yet.)

EX-“DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES” ACTRESS Nicollette Sheridan told Reute Butler, head of Friends of Conservation, that “animals are my loves. I adore my horses and dog and am so proud of the progress your organization is making saving the wildlife in Kenya and other at-risk locations.” Nicollette was the frosting on the cake at the Conservation gala in the Fairmont, which raised $200,000.

AUTHOR SARA PARETSKY has launched her lucky 13th book, Hardball, with popular hard-drinking detective V.I. Warshawski. Sara and her husband were in the crowd at the Personal PAC luncheon at the Hilton, chaired by Cari Sacks and Jodi Block, sharing applause for pro-choice candidates and the 20th anniversary of amazing president and CEO Terry Cosgrove.

A WILD AND CRAZY BIRTHDAY BASH at Maxim’s marked the 60th year for vintage clothing guru Laurie Davis of Lulu at the Belle Kay salon on North Lincoln. With 60 fans, buddies and clients, Laurie was treated to female impersonators from hell — but verrry funny ladies — enough food to save 1,000 starving gourmets, gifts galore, toasts and roasts and boasts. It was hilarious. Hostesses for the lavish tribute were: Roni Segal, Dusty Stemer, Susan Grimm, Sherrill Bodine and Natasha Isaacs. Here is a photo to show the colorful principals. Four of Laurie’s five sisters flew in from all over the country for the party: Carla Siegel, Maria Egan, Dawn Walden and Linda Ruberto.

“I COME FROM HOLLYWOOD, WHERE BREASTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN BRAINS!” So said witty Chicago talent actress/comic/talk show host Bonnie Hunt at the SRO Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation luncheon at the Ritz. And it was all about boobs and making breast cancer obsolete. It was the 64th birthday of Lynn Sage, announced Charlene Lieber. And Maggie Daley, a breast cancer survivor, added her inspirational words. Dr. Steve Rosen, whom Bonnie worked with as an oncology nurse before showbiz called, spoke briefly as director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. There was an auction of handbags, 20 given by Bonnie, who got movie stars to donate their gently used treasures. Cancer survivor Roz Varon and president of the board Linda Weinstein emceed. It was a lovefest when Dr. Rosen and Bonnie hugged and recalled their labors together to save lives. Any guest who wasn’t inspired by the warm feelings in the room wasn’t paying attention. Caring was the name of the game for everyone there.

DR. RICHARD ROVNER is recuperating from surgery with nursing from loving wife, Judge Ilana Rovner.

ARCHITECT DICK BARANCIK returned from California to celebrate a big birthday with family and friends.

FASHIONISTAS ARE DIETING and buying new gowns for the Nov. 6 La Bella Notte black-tie benefit for the Service Club of Chicago at the Four Seasons. Chairmen are Katherine Crane and Catherine Smith.

THE AUTUMN RECEPTION Nov. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel by the Chicago Cultural Mile Association will feature a tribute to the memory of chairman Lawrence Pucci, the guiding spirit of the civic group, and a legendary designer and cultural leader.

HEIRESS TO THE SKIL CORP. FORTUNE, Jenny Sullivan was a studious, self-described nerd growing up in Winnetka, reports a story in Vogue magazine. Today she’s the beleaguered wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, forever stained by his “soulmate” South American adventure. Jenny’s take on her mate’s obsession with another woman is that he’s having a mid-life crisis and that it is like an addiction to drugs or pornography. Breaking away is difficult. Both are in pastoral and marriage counseling.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY of mammogram pioneer Dr. Harold Lasky. He guided the breast health of several generations of patients.

APPLAUDING DANIEL CRAIG AND HUGH JACKMAN in A Steady Rain on Broadway was Chicago Dramatists development director Cynthia Frahm. She compared their performances to the production here of that two-cop drama. Raymond Gaspard, one of the producers of A Steady Rain has optioned another of the CD scripts, Liquid Moon, for a New York run.

DRUNK WITH POWER after his NogamesChicago.com got favorable response fighting the 2016 Olympic Games, Tom Tresser is running for Cook County board president. He is a teacher at DePaul University.

FATHER-SON LEGAL TEAM of Milton and Barry Levenfeld receive awards, with Alan Sklar, for leadership and achievement at the Ravinia banquet Oct. 29 for American-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

JOFFREY BALLET LEGEND Gerald Arpino’s furniture and memorabilia will be auctioned Nov. 1 at Leslie Hindman’s.

WEIGHT TRUMPED CLOUT AT THE SLIMMED DOWN Rush University Medical Center’s fashion parade at the Palmer House Hilton. “If models were not a size 4, they were out,” decreed chairman Courtney McEniry. Sorry, she’s right. Designer fashions look better on skinnnnnnnny bods. The show rocked.

AMONG THE 800 attendees were Anna Davlantes, Robin Robinson, Jeff Goldblatt, Jim Karas, America’s Next Top Model McKey Sullivan, John Fornengo, Meredith Wood Prince, Clea Costa, Estelle Walgreen, Jamee Field, Arturo Gomez, Michael McKay, Remy Lagrange, Cindy Chereskin, the Pat Ryans, Kristi Nuelle, Cathy Busch, Raul Melgoza, Barbara Malott-Kizziah, the Bill Goodyears, Denise Stefan, Myra and John Reilly, Catherine Eberle, Diane Thomas, Lindy Keiser, Charlie Heekin, Susan Crown, Denise Ashurst and Joseph Bartucci.

WHO WERE THE TWO GLAM BLONDES lunching with handsome Sean Eshaghy at the Arts Club?

“ON ONE ISSUE, MEN AND WOMEN AGREE: they both distrust women.” — H.L. Mencken

Contact: annbgerber@gmail.com

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