IT IS A LOVE STORY WITH AN UNHAPPY ENDING, but when Hughie, former New York Gov. Hugh Carey, spied Evangeline Gouletas at the Reagan inaugural, it was love at first sight. And so they married in 1981, when Hugh was 62 and swallowed Engie’s story of being a widow. But Chicago’s real estate tycoon Engie, 44, was wed three times, divorced all of her husbands, and had a daughter, Maria.

LOVE-SICK CAREY, WHOSE WIFE, Helen Owen, had died of breast cancer after giving him 13 children, saw only an accomplished business executive, equestrian and fashionable brunette beauty. When the press learned the true tale of Engie’s background, there were bumper stickers, “Honk if you were married to Engie Gouletas” and other embarrassments for Catholic Carey. He became a laughing stock and presidential dreams were dashed.

THERE IS A NEW BOOK, THE MAN WHO SAVED NEW YORK, by Seymour P. Lachman and Robert Polner (Suny Press) that praises Carey for “rescuing New York from financial ruin in the great fiscal crisis of 1975.” It adds fuel to the theory that if Gouletas had not entered his life, Carey was on the road to the White House. Engie doomed his career when the public laughed at how she had fooled him into believing she was a widow.

WE MET HUGH WHEN ENGIE brought him to Chicago to meet her friends. At her Lake Point Tower residence, she had 20 guests lined up to shake his hand. Engie introduced us, one by one. He then turned around, without Engie at his side, came back to each of us and called us by name. What a memory he had!

What a charmer he was. Engie made him sing, “New York, New York,” which he accomplished in a fine baritone. This was before they married.

AFTER THE WEDDING, with Gouletas wearing a $25,000 gown, all was well until the lies about her marriages were revealed. Carey was humiliated.

Their life together disintegrated and Carey moved out of their lavish apartment. Evangeline refused to believe he wouldn’t come back.

“WHERE CAN HE FIND ANOTHER WOMAN better than me?” she cried to me. “When we walk into a room together, everyone stops to look. We are a perfect couple.” Hugh never came back. Today Engie spends most of her time developing condos in Florida.

NEW YORK’S FINANCIAL WOES were an extraordinary challenge that brought out the best in Carey, say authors Lachman and Polner. Carey called municipal bankruptcy unthinkable and he got the unions to agree to pay-raise deferrals and freezes, plus layoffs. Hugh won a controversial city debt restructuring and tax hikes. His legacy is growing.

WHEN HUGHIE MET ENGIE remains a cautionary tale of love and betrayal … Chicago style.

PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO, partying in the Hamptons with super-rich pharmaceutical wholesaler Stewart Rahr, was leaving the festivities to fly home before star Lionel Richie was to perform. Rahr begged him to stay and the Prince said “no.” “I’ll give you a million dollars for your favorite charity if you stay,” promised Rahr.

Albert couldn’t refuse so royal an offer so he took it, “for the kids I help.” (For a mil you would have listened to Lionel, too.) Also at the event were President Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

WHO IS THE ATTRACTIVE DIVORCEE hell-bent on catching a wealthy mate, who has mapped out her plan? She moved into a condo building that boasts several rich bachelors, and she’s into cookie baking to meet the neighbors. Also, she’s sent notes that she’ll dog-sit, play bridge, go to movies, and drive those who need a lift. And she makes a devilishly good chocolate cake. Perhaps her smartest move was to form a building social club, where lonely folks can gather once a week.

THE HOT DINNER PARTY at the Mettawa home of Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra, hosted by Arny Granat and Irene Michaels who bid for it at a charity auction, had some interesting guests. Attendees included: Gov. JIM and JAYNE THOMPSON, LISA MADIGAN, BILLY MAROVITZ and CHRISTIE HEFNER, JOHN REGAS, SUZIE and ROSS GLICKMAN, and RICHARD and MARTHA MELMAN.

“LOTS OF CARDIO, water, eating smart.” That’s how TV host Drew Carey lost 80 pounds. Carey, 52, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and got religion.

OUR DENNIS FARINA, NICK NOLTE and Dustin Hoffman will star in an HBO drama set in the world of horse racing called Luck.

RAISING $26,000 for the Chicago Lighthouse for the visually impaired were members of its women’s board who hosted a performance of Billy Elliot and a dinner. Co-chairs were Cookie Cohen and Peggy Jester, praised by Lighthouse director Dr. Janet Szlyk.

JACK COOPER, AUTHOR OF WHO KNEW?!, will sign copies at Barnes & Noble at 1 p.m. Aug. 29 in Old Orchard. It reveals little-known achievements of some interesting people.

ALICE GOLD receives the Kupcinet Award at the annual Chicago Academy for the Arts honors luncheon Oct. 13 at the Palmer House Hilton. Catherine Thomas will be given the distinguished alumni citation. Co-chairs are Evie Glieberman, Vonita Reescer and Cookie Cohen with John Robert Wiltgen.

ACTOR BRUCE WILLIS met fans at Binny’s, the renovated Marcey Street center, at a benefit for the Foundation for Retinal Research. His movie Red, will be out this fall.

SNOOKERING THE PUBLIC is the no-talent, piggie celeb Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and her castmates on the TV wreck, Jersey Shore. Can you believe it is a popular show? The dumbing down of America is a self-inflicted choice.

STANDOUTS AT THE ZOO BALL were Mary Kay Touhy and husband, trader Jeff Silverman, who partied with friends at the annual benefit to support Lincoln Park Zoo.

MONEY HONEY MARIA BARTIROMO, who was first to broadcast from the New York Stock Exchange, has a book out next month titled The Weekend That Changed Wall Street. The CNBC anchor knows where the bodies, and cash, are buried.

OZZIE GUILLEN OF THE SOX was seen dining at popular Carmichael’s.

GOLD COAST RESIDENTS TELL US that suburbanites, and others from out of the area, park their cars on local streets and that “the beach people” are the worst. “We provide free commuter lots for drivers who then take buses to the loop. Zoned parking starts at 6 p.m. We want zoned parking 24 hours a day.” Adding to their complaints is the increase in crime. “Two girls were robbed at Stone and Scott streets,” one neighbor reported. It is easy for gangs and criminals to come to our area.

ACTRESS/SINGER PATTI LUPONE brought her leading man, Patrick Cassidy, her husband and son to the Sarah Siddons Society Awards gala at the Ritz where she received the Chicago Actor for All Seasons honor. Local actress Mary Beth Fisher was bestowed with the Chicago’s Leading Lady title as our town’s theater buffs applauded. A special tribute was given to Dominic Missimi, Northwestern University professor for 30 years known for his Waa-Mu shows and 80 other productions, who retires this year. Patti, svelte in a black, low-cut gown, is proud of her autobiography, Patti LuPone: A Memoir, available Sept. 14. Talented students from Northwestern, DePaul, Columbia and Roosevelt sang out their hearts at the black-tie blast. Attendees included: gala chairs DONNA ATWATER and GRETA FLORY, LORI LENNON, SUSAN GLICK, MARY LOU BILDER-GOLD, ANTHONY ROSSI, SHIRLEY MICHAELS, CAROL HAYS, MERLE RESKIN, RICHARD CHRISTIANSEN, STANLEY PAUL, DENIS and SONDRA HEALY, DAVID BELL, SEAN ESHAGY, MAMIE WALTON, the NORBERT GOLDS, GREG LEWIS, WELZ KAUFFMAN, AMY KAHN, KERRY HANNEN, MARC KAUFMAN, MELISSA LEHMAN, EMMA LIVELY, WENDI MANCINI KATHERYN MOFFATT, CHARLES NEWELL, the ANSEL NISBETHS, and BARBARA O’KEEFE.

Applauding Patti and the upcoming college hopefuls were: CYNTHIA OLSON, JANET OWEN, ERIN PEISERT, the DAVID PEMBERTONS, ALYNE SALSTONE, HEATHER SCHMUCKER, BETHANY SCHRAMM, ROCHE SCHULFER, JUNIA SHLAUSTAS, LAURA SKOLNICK, LAURIE and ED WEED, the LESLIE ZENTNERS, JENNY SMITH, NAOMI STARK, MARILYN TENZER, JOSIE TOMES, the HOWARD TRAISMANS, HEDY WEISS, the RICHARD WHARTONS, JEAN WRIGHT, the PAUL YOVOVICHES and hard-working KEVIN SULLIVAN.

SORRY TO LEARN ABOUT THE FAMILY FEUD rocking the Chris Kamberos estate. He was the co-founder of Treasure Island Foods and his daughter Christi Kamberos Matthews and second wife Maria are battling over his will. Christi alleges in a lawsuit that Maria schemed to get her father to reduce the inheritance for Christi and other relatives. Kamberos was 60 when he married Maria, 29. She now runs Treasure Island. Chris died last October at 83.

HOT TICKET IS THE SEPT. 10 CHILDREN’S HOME & AID 90th gala co-chaired by Mary Ellen Cagney and Heather Kotlarz at the Four Seasons.

IT WAS A LOVE-IN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHEN CHEF ART SMITH married artist Jesus Salgueiro on Aug. 21. Pals flew in for the festivities and it was all about savoring love and making a commitment. Everyone wishes them a lifetime of happiness.

AUDREY EPTON WAS A BRITISH WAR BRIDE and through the years has captured many hearts. Her children, Dale, Teri, Jeffrey and Mark adore her, and she’s one of the most respected neighbors in her Lake Shore Drive condo building. Lovely Audrey is the widow of Saul Epton.

“LIFE IS FULL OF MISERY, LONELINESS, AND SUFFERING — and it’s all over much too soon.” — Woody Allen

CONTACT: annbgerber@gmail.com or 847-677-2232

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By Chris Paluch from West Ridge
Posted: 09/01/2010 8:36 PM

Audry Epton is the widow of Bernie not Saul.