In Memoriam
Thomas Grotrian - 1973-2011
Thomas Grotrian was instrumental in developing the World's biggest massed pipe band in Edinburgh, 1995. It was his vision and determination that brought thousands of pipers and drummers together to march along Princes Street to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
It was this event that became the inspiration for Pipefest and since 1995, massed pipe band parades under the Pipefest banner have taken place in Edinburgh, New York, Chicago, the US Grand Prix, Indianapolis, Rome, Paris, Shanghai and Nova Scotia. Over £750,000 has been raised for cancer charities by the players taking part and spectators along route. Highlights have included: the Millennuim Piping Festival attended by HRH Prince Charles; marching through Manhattan led by Sir Sean Connery and Mayor Bloomberg; marching under the Eiffel Tower in Paris; opening the US Grand Prix in a parade led by Sir Jackie Stewart; and Pipefest 2005 which attracted players from 32 countries.
After Pipefest 2005, Tom summed-up working on massed pipe band events: "we have had great fun". Indeed - there are many great memories, proud moments & fun times, all thanks to Tom!
Donald and Eleanor Taffner
The recent passing of Donald Taffner, Sr. on September 6th 2011, less than a year after the loss of his wife and business partner Eleanor Taffner, is of great sadness to the American-Scottish Foundation®.
The Taffners were Life Members of the Foundation and receipients of the ASF Wallace Award in 2005. Leading philanthropists, they lent their support to many international charities and initiatives.
The Taffners were presented with the Wallace Award for their extraordinary devotion to the Glasgow School of Art and the preservation of its Charles Rennie Mackintosh archives. They were the first Americans without Scottish ancestry to receive the award.
Other past receipients of the Wallace Award include Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, Sir Sean Connery, the Forbes Family and Senator Trent Lott.
Cliff Robertson
Cliff Robertson at Tartan Day 1999
The American-Scottish Foundation® is greatly saddened by the passing of Cliff Robertson. Best known for his acting roles, including his portrayal of John F. Kennedy as a wartime skipper in “P.T. 109" (1963), Robertson was a passionate lover of Scotland.
As Alan Bain, President Emeritus of the ASF explains, “Cliff Robertson loved Scotland and all that is Scottish and we were honored when he agreed to lead us in our very first Tartan Day Parade in 1998. We marched up Third Avenue from the British Consulate to the United Nations with Cliff as our Grand Marshall. He enjoyed it so much that he agreed to take on the task again the next year with the band of the Lothian Police Pipes and Drums leading us into Central Park up the Literary Walk. Without his support and the attention he garnered for us in those early days, the parade might not have grown to what it is today with thousands now lining Sixth Avenue”.
The ASF were proud and honored that for many years Cliff Robertson served as a Vice President of the Foundation.