Pam Panchak, Post-Gazette photos Heart Ball chair Dan Booker with wife Debby Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Seen Photo Journal

The dinner with Jerome Bettis and Bob Pompeani went for an impressive $10,000 Saturday night, with auctioneer Marty Davis giving the "sold" nod to Curt Fleming (with his wife, Kim, president of Hefren-Tillotson). Such generosity wasn't just fueled by a desire to meet the Bus, but to help in the fight against heart disease. By evening's end, the 2006 Heart Ball generated close to $1 million, an astonishing total that was testament to the hard work of the American Heart Association committee.

Reed Smith attorney Dan Booker (with his wife, Debby) chaired the ball and led the campaign to raise more than $250,000 to fund the work of four research fellows. Dr. Rick Shannon and his wife, Dr. Barbara Clark, served as gala chairs. Dr. Shannon also chaired the committee to honor Dr. Claude Joyner, the recipient of the Peter J. Safar Pulse of Pittsburgh Award.

Dr. Joyner, retired chair of the Department of Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital, revolutionized medicine by using ultrasound to diagnose cardiovascular heart disease, which is considered one of the top 10 advancements in cardiology of the past century.

Heart pioneer and honoree Dr. Claude Joyner and his wife, Peggy. Click photo for larger image.

"I wore this cap for one reason," said Dr. Joyner. "So I would have the opportunity to tip my hat and thank you for coming here and supporting the American Heart Association." With that, some 900 guests gave Dr. Joyner a standing ovation, both heartfelt and heart-warming.

The Heart Ball grows bigger and better each year, and it filled the magnificently decorated ballroom of the Pittsburgh Hilton. With Shelly Tolo Events orchestrating the affair, everything was top-notch. Chocolate brown linens were graced by lighted arrangements of roses, pale green orchids and rustic tree branches from Flowers in the Attic. Nick Dialoiso and his 21-piece orchestra got the crowd dancing to a wide repertoire before, during and after a terrific dinner. Executive chef Paul LeBlance prepared a sublime shrimp and corn chowder, mesclun greens with roasted pears, grilled salmon and petit filet mignon and several decadent desserts.

Getting up between bites to bid on the extensive silent auction chaired by Lori Ruffalo and Barbara Walls were mega-sponsors including Bayer CEO Attila Molnar and VP Connie Conboy with Dr. Bob Yakulis, AGH president Connie Cibrone, Highmark CEO Dr. Ken Melani with Tracy, WPAHS CEO Jerry Fedele, PGT Trucking president Pat Gallagher with Robin, U.S. Steel COO John Goodish with Kitty, Orbital Engineering CEO Robert Lewis, and others including AHA board chair Judy Olson (with Jim), Sen. Melissa Hart, Dr. George Magovern Jr., Dr. Michael Mathier and Dr. Rachel Givelber, Bonnie and Richard Anton, Michael and Carol Bleier, Janet and Paul Medvedo, Marygrace Reder, Ann Cahouet, W.P. Snyder III, Tony and Linda Bucci, Lucy and Ian Rawson and Tim and Jennifer Fraps, gala director for the AHA.

Guests chat during the gala dinner at the Hilton.