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CIAO BELLA! BY JANE ROZELLE. PHOTOGRAPHY BEAU BUMPAS. OCTOBER | PAGE 12 | 2015 L aughter could always be heard in PaperCity's Dallas office when Margaret Stafford, newly retired associate publisher, arrived in the mornings with tales from the night before, and tidbits of insider scoop, provoking an uproarious reaction from anyone sitting in the chair across from her. Always one with tricks up her sleeve and a cheeky smile, she held meetings, lunches and cocktails with poise and laughter. A weekly staple in my work routine was sitting down in a cozy chair in her office for a visit, whether to gab about the current issue or rehash box office reviews; the catch-up sesh was always a treat. With photos overlapping on her bulletin boards and magazines overflowing on the bookshelves, there was a lot of history in that office … After 15 years and 185 issues gone to print, our dear friend bid adieu to daily deadlines … but never to the PaperCity family. We made sure she went out with a VPC (Very PaperCity) bang! To honor such an incredible slice of company history, PaperCity editor in chief and co-owner Holly Moore, president and co-owner Jim Kastleman, and PC editors and advertising execs (both current and former) hosted a farewell fête at the Residences at the Stoneleigh. While DJ Brandon Olds spun a colorful soundtrack, waiters met guests at the entrance with frosty Zodiac Vodka cocktails and Bon Affair bubbles. Margaret's son, Detroit Lions' star quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly, daughter Page Clark and husband Dawson also showed mom some support. Taking a trip down memory lane: Beverly Field, Victoria Snee, Stephen Marston, Anthony Fedele, Joanne Teichman, Meaders Ozarow, Bill Armstrong, Rhonda Marple, Rachel Roberts, and Susan Posnick, as well as PaperCity alumni Brooke Hortenstine, Rob Brinkley, Richard Graziano, and Sharon Watts. A show of photos with friends spanned unfortunate costume parties to '80s hairdos — a little something for everyone. YOUR FAVORITE MARGARET MOMENT? "Margaret arrived to pitch ad space. I handed her an army helmet (I wore one, too), she crossed her legs and said, "Great — battle stations! Let's go mano y mano combat for a tiny quarter-page ad!" — George Cameron Nash "One time, we exceeded our (already final) deadline and received a Stafford Smack-Down — sweetly, of course. We were never late again." — Melinda Obenchain "Margaret and I always seemed to get the uncontrollable giggles at the worst possible moment — whether at an event, on the phone or during an interview." — Richard Graziano "Margaret's wit is unmatchable. Her friendship is irreplaceable. And her curiosity and humor is contagious. We canvassed the city together in search of the finest scoop for PaperCity, and we found it in the most comical places — from a socialite's secret estate sale to an opium bed in the middle of Neiman Marcus with a very informative Vivienne Tam." — Brooke Hortenstine "IT WAS A WONDERFUL 15-YEAR REUNION OF MY VPC FAMILY AND FRIENDS!" — MARGARET STAFFORD Barbara Buzzell David Nichols Ulrich Sterling Rose Clark Bret McKinney Lynn McBee Virginia Davis Rob Wilson Martha Hinojosa Robert Weatherly Margaret Stafford Max Trowbridge Greer Goss Joyce Goss Melinda Obenchain Stephen Marston Wendy Fedele Peggy Levinson Debbie Lucas Chandra North Holly Haber Page Clark Dawson Clark Matthew Stafford Margaret Stafford Allen Davis Bill Jesse Robyn Stringfellow Eric Dorton Brooke Hortenstine Margaret and Richard strike a pose in the Smilebooth Piper Wyatt Jessica Jesse Kelly Stafford Elaine Raffel Isabel O'Neill Loryn Weddle Jim Williamson Ken Maxwell Sissy's Southern Kitchen Mimi Crume Sterling