Danialle Karmanos has canceled a Great Gatsby-like white-tie gala honoring her husband, retired Compuware founder Pete Karmanos, for what she says will be a more inclusive community party later this summer, The Detroit News reports.
"Pete's a coney guy," she told columnist Laura Berman News via text message Monday. "Pete and I both come from blue-collar roots and our perfect party is inclusive and diverse and celebrates the city and people we love."
"Plans to honor Pete Karmanos initially included two events — one a public employee party in Campus Martius, the other a white-tie/white jacket/white gloves gala July 8 for the corporate and civic elite. After Compuware officials canceled the celebration due to cost concerns, Danialle Karmanos vowed to carry on and pay for the parties herself.
"But Danialle Karmanos now says there will be one celebration downtown in late July or August, in the area he helped to revive by building a new skyscraper, One Campus Martius, in a once-moribund area."
Compuware Ventures provided initial funding for Deadline Detroit.
