Mansion in May homeowner inspired by life-saving hospital stay

As Pete Forenza lay bedridden at the Morristown Medical Center for a week in September 2021 with a terrifying heart infection, he never imagined that almost two years later, he would have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to help the hospital that saved him.

But that’s just what will happen when Forenza’s home at 375 Cherry Lane in Mendham — a 9,000-square-foot estate known as Three Fields — will be the setting of the Women's Association for Morristown Medical Center’s (WAMMC) nearly 50-year-old signature fundraiser Mansion in May.

From May 1 to 31, the 94-year-old estate’s doors will be open to visitors eager to see 31 rooms and 17 landscaped spaces creatively and colorfully outfitted by local interior designers.

Proceeds of the $50 general admission tickets and $125 private tour tickets (on sale now) will benefit the expansion and modernization of The Institute of Bioskills Training and Innovation at the Morristown Medical Center. The WAMMC aims to raise $1.5 million through this year’s Mansion in May, its 20th event.

Forenza, an insurance broker for contracting companies, has long wanted to get his own hands dirty by renovating a home in need of TLC. He spent four years trying to find one to buy — until he stumbled upon for-sale Three Fields and bought it in late 2020 for $2.125 million.

Previously, he was interested in buying Tyvan Hill, which was the setting of 2020’s rendition of Mansion in May, called Splendor in September since it took place in September due to COVID. Although that deal did not come to fruition, the WAMMC contacted him in June 2022 and asked him for permission to use his new home as the setting of this year's fundraiser.

“We feel this one found us because at the WAMMC board meeting last June, our president said, ‘I’m really sorry, but I don’t think we will be able to find a mansion for 2023,' ” recalled Mary Courtemanche, Mansion in May co-chair. “As she was saying that, our mansion search committee got a text about Three Fields. We went to see it and it was so beautiful and glorious, and the property around it was stunning.”

Since Mansion in May homes must be unoccupied from January through mid-June to allow designers to create and later dissemble their spaces, the homes are sometimes for sale at the time of the event. Forenza already owned Three Fields and was renovating it, but the choice made sense to him.

“It was the charitable aspect for me,” said Forenza. “The women’s association raises millions in this fundraiser ..."

So, Forenza promised to have his renovations completed by April 30 — and plans to move into the house in June.

“Since I had looked at so many houses, I had a vision and I knew I could do work that a lot of other people probably couldn’t see past because there were a lot of things the prior owners did to the house that changed its character,” Forenza said. “My idea was to bring it back to the original style and look.”

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Forenza got to work on the stone, brick and tile-roofed French manor style home set upon 36 acres. He removed tile to expose oak pegged floors, removed wallpaper, repaired structural issues, removed rot, rewired heating, electric and plumbing, replaced windows, stripped paint off beams, redid the pool and tennis courts, and built outdoor trails.

“When visitors see Three Fields, it will look very much like it did in 1929,” said Barbara Ruane, Mansion in May co-chair.

“Pete is taking such great care of the mansion, and it will be here 100 years from now,” Courtemanche added.

By May 1, this year’s Mansion in May designers — 11 of whom are new to the fundraiser — will be ready to display their work throughout the property.

Some of those designers include Broadfoot and Broadfoot of Boonton, which will have an art gallery on the second floor and large sculptures throughout the landscaped areas; CWI.Design of New Providence, which is staging the dining room; and eInteractive, which is designing the family entertainment lounge with technology automations.

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Outside of the mansion, a tent will be set up that will serve as a 200-person café, where box lunches, desserts, snacks and beverages will be available for purchase.

It will take visitors a little over one hour to walk through the interior and exterior of the house in a self-guided tour.

Through the years, the WAMMC has raised $12 million for the Morristown Medical Center, and this year’s beneficiary of The Institute of Bioskills Training and Innovation was chosen with care, Courtemanche said.

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The institute provides a safe and controlled environment for doctors, nurses and medical students to practice clinical skills through simulation training. But it needs to be expanded and modernized, according to a WAMMC release.

As part of that expansion and modernization, new medical manikins and simulators will be purchased, and a mock operating room, intensive care room, new trauma resuscitation room and standardized patient exam room identical to those found in the hospital will be added.

In addition, a team will be hired to develop a curriculum and facilitate training; a general educational space will be constructed; and a camera recording system for performance feedback will be installed throughout the facility.

“Before we do a Mansion in May, we speak with Morristown Medical Center and find out what the hospital’s needs are at the moment,” Courtemanche said. “We want make a big difference and raise the money that they need.”

Go: Mansion in May, 375 Cherry Lane, Mendham, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 to 31, $50 general admission; mansioninmay.org/tickets.

Contact: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com

Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Mansion in May 2023 homeowner inspired by life-saving hospital stay