Bruschi hailed for courage, kindness
Tough guy Tedy Bruschi's tender heart was on display Saturday. The plucky Pats linebacker, who's attempting to make a miracle comeback from a stroke suffered in February, was the center of attention at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's 35th anniversary celebration. But it wasn't just Bruschi's personal battle that earned him the evening's Champion of Courage Award, it was his selfless support for fellow Spaulding patients such as Merrimack College goalie Joe Exeter, whom Bruschi encouraged during his rehab from a head injury, and Gina Russo, a mother of two who spent months at Spaulding after the Station nightclub fire. At Saturday's party at the Cyclorama, Bruschi and wife Heidi sat with Neil Sullivan, the heroic Melrose firefighter whose right leg was amputated in August after he was crushed between two fire trucks. (Also in the audience were Pats prez Jonathan Kraft, former governor Mike Dukakis, and home improvement guru Bob Vila.) In honor of hard-nosed No. 54, who may suit up Sunday versus the Bills, Spaulding announced that it's naming the gymnasium in the new Spaulding hospital after Pro Bowl tackler Tedy.
The parties UpStairs
Not far from Noir, at UpStairs on the Square, former New England Conservatory prez Laurence Lesser was entertaining noted Dutch cellist Anner Bylsma. (Not coincidentally, Bylsma was managed 20 years ago by Mary-Catherine Deibel, co-owner of UpStairs on the Square.) The next night, retired Harvard marshal Richard Hunt marked 50 years of wedded bliss to his wife, Priscilla Hunt, with a soiree attended by former Harvard prez Derek Bok and wife Sissela, former Harvard dean Fred Glimp and wife Buster, Julia Child's pal Pat Pratt and husband Herb Pratt, child development guru Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, and do-gooder Ann Gund. . . . After Saturday's show, ''Tuesdays With Morrie" star Harold Gould headed to the Opera House to see Billy Crystal in ''700 Sundays."
The benefits of reading
Chris and Marianne Leone Cooper will read a few of their favorite short stories at a benefit tonight for PEN New England at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge. The Academy Award-winning actor and ''Capote" costar will read something by Belmont author Tom Perrotta, while his wife has selected a story by Joyce Carol Oates. . . . Renegade filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles is in town this week for a series of lectures at Harvard's W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. Mario Van Peebles's father, and director of the cult classic ''Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song," talks tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Barker Center on Quincy Street. . . .
The man who would be president -- UMass VPJ. Keith Motley -- received a special award at this weekend's ABCD community awards dinner, ably MC'd by Maria Stephanos and Glenn Jones of FOX25 News.
Out in force to salute 'Star Wars'
Surrounded by stormtroopers and other familiar ''Star Wars" characters, George Lucas was clearly among friends at Saturday's party at the Museum of Science to celebrate its new exhibit, ''Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination." The evening's MC was none other than old friend C-3PO, a.k.a. Anthony Daniels. . . . The gossip mag Star reports that dad-to-be Ben Affleck wants very badly to quit smoking and will resort to a top US hypnotist recommended by his buddy and fellow smoker Matt Damon. Affleck hopes to lose the bad habit by the time his wife, Jennifer Garner, has the couple's baby in December. . . . While the crowd scarfed the tasty hors d'oeuvres prepared by his talented sister-in-law, chef Jody Adams, San Antonio Express-News editor Robert Rivard signed copies of his book ''Trail of Feathers: Searching for Philip True," about the search for the killers of an Express-News reporter in 1998. The party at Noir Friday attracted a host of local journos and Nieman fellows, but no one was prouder of Rivard than Mike Walker, the author's high school English teacher, who teaches now at Holyoke Community College. . . . That was some power lunch at Via Matta the other day with Peggy Henry, wife of Sox owner John Henry; Stacey Lucchino, wife of Sox CEO Larry Lucchino; Shonda Schilling, wife of Sox ace Curt Schilling; and Corinne Grousbeck, wife of Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck.
David Beard of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 
