Memories of Whitney

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Governor Pat Quinn in an undated photo, archived on May 25, 2011. | Photo by Marie McBee

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Updated: March 17, 2012 10:04AM

J UST IN: GOV. PAT QUINN will announce Thursday around $115 million in funding to improve Chicago Public Schools. The improvements will range from new classrooms to repairs and technology upgrades.

MORE WHITNEY: This columnist received an exclusive statement from Chicago publicist Regina Daniels, who worked as Whitney Houston’s publicist at Nippy Inc. out of Fort Lee, N.J., for more than eight years in the early ’80s.

“I was shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of my former client, Whitney Houston,” said Daniels. “Upon hearing the news I instantly started going down memory lane about all the great times Whitney and I shared. Whitney was my first platform in the world of publicity and marketing. She and I were introduced by her mother, Cissy Houston,” said Daniels.

“Some of my fondest memories of Whitney were the trips us girls would take to the islands where we talked about our future plans and of course our latest crushes. Whitney was truly a kind, loving human being with an amazing heart,” Daniels said.

“I am happiest knowing that Whitney accomplished her dreams and became very successful. More than 20 years later I am still doing publicity and marketing with my own firm, Daniels Entertainment Group,” said Daniels. She also represented singer R. Kelly for years, and the Bears’ Matt Forte is a client.

A READER OF this column, James Marino, reminded me that Whitney Houston’s half-brother Gary Garland was a star player on the DePaul University Blue Demons basketball team under the late legendary coach Ray Meyer from 1975-’79. His nickname was the “Music Man” because he often would sing the National Anthem before the Demon games. His mom, Cissy, did the same at one of the games. Musician Gary, who added the name Houston, was still working with his sister up until her death and his wife, Marion Patricia, was Whitney’s manager.

APPELLATE COURT Judge Aurelia Pucinski has been keeping up with the medical updates on U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who at last report, is in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, recovering from a stroke on Jan. 21 that required surgery to ease the swelling in his brain.

Pucinski told this reporter, “Last September, I presented Kirk with the Roman Pucinski Outstanding Leadership award from the Polish American Congress for his tireless efforts to eliminate the visa requirement for Polish visitors to the U.S. and to strengthen Polish security,” said Pucinski. “Kirk was also a co-sponsor of a resolution making Revolutionary War General Casimir Pulaski an honorary U.S. citizen,” Pucinski said. The award is named after her late father, Cong. Roman Pucinski. SENATOR MATTIE HUNTER

will be among the awardees at the Jackson State University’s “For the Love of Blue” jazz & blues brunch Saturday at the Parkway Ballroom and sponsored by the JSU Alumni Chicago Chapter. The other honorees are actor/corporate exec Anthony Brooks and educators Glasetta Barksdale, Mae Carr and Alean Smith. Chicago’s Carolyn Palmer, a retired Marshall High School principal, is the emcee. For ticket info: (312) 758-4182.

THE SIGHTS: “The Real Housewives Of Orange County” reality star Vicki Gunvalson dined with her brother, Bill Steimetz, at the Gale Street Inn in Diamond Lake. Steimetz owns the new Snap Fitness Club in Mundelein . . . State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka spent Valentine’s Day delivering Valentines to vets in the Hines VA Hospital . . . The Bulls’ Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson, Ronnie Brewer and John Lucas dined at Gibsons after beating the Kings.

MUSIC SET: Nan Mason & Terry Higgins at Twelvewest nightclub Thursday . . .
Guns N’ Roses at House of Blues Sunday . . . The Mc Craven Project at Close Up 2 Friday and Saturday.

BIRTHDAY CANDLES: Belated anniversary wishes to Stan & Candy Gellineau. On Friday: Attorney James Montgomery Sr., WMAQ-Channel 5 Kim Vatis, Dick Elrod, Margie Korshak, Mert Silbar and Michael Jordan. On Saturday: Rev. Johnnie Coleman and Judy Markey. On Sunday: Rich Samuels. On Monday: Robert Mariano, Rihanna, Fred Ashtari, Phil Esposito, Terry Gorski and WGN-Channel 9’s Tom Skilling.Well, that’s Stella in the City!