California Dreamin’: GFS Alumni Gathered in San Francisco and LA

Nearly 3,000 miles stretch between Philadelphia and California, but the distance was hardly felt at the recent alumni gatherings in San Francisco and Los Angeles, hosted by the school’s Office of Alumni Relations.

Though the concentration of GFS grads isn’t as high in these California cities as in some East Coast locales, like Boston, NYC, and DC, there was strong turnout for both events, with 44 alumni in San Francisco and 33 in LA, from class years ranging from 1958 to 2020. 

Building Bridges in San Francisco

On January 15, at Waterbar, a stylish seafood restaurant with a great view of the Bay Bridge, alumni reconnected and mingled. 

Special guest Ben Cushman, Class of 1972 and a member of the GFS School Committee, attended with his husband Marc Nadeau. He spoke to the group about the core Quaker values—seeking Truth, honoring the individual, and silent reflection—that remain the moral compass of GFS even as the school continues to evolve. Cushman also shared what has inspired him to stay engaged with the school community and urged alumni to support the historic Picture This campaign as it enters its final stretch.  

Ari Weinstein '12, co-founder and CEO of Software Applications Incorporated, also addressed the attendees, reminiscing about his time at GFS and sharing why he continues to give back to the school through both philanthropic support and mentorship for current students. He also offered heartfelt gratitude to Upper School Math and Computer Science teacher Matt Zipin, who flew from Philly to attend the gathering. 

Zipin, who has taught at GFS for 38 years, will retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. He’s influenced, inspired, and guided numerous students, including those like Weinstein who went on to pursue careers in the coding, gaming, app development, and tech sectors.

Zipin joked with the group about how much the state of technology has changed at GFS over the decades, and assured them that GFS remains a place where curiosity isn't restricted and the spirit of inquiry remains constant.

Catching Rays in LA

Two days later on a sunny Saturday morning, GFS Angelenos met for brunch at Milo + Olive in Santa Monica. During the casual meal, including seasonal cocktails and dishes featuring produce from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, alumni chatted and caught up.

They also met and spoke with the event’s special guests: History and Quakerism teacher Andrew Malkasian, and visionary educator and leader Joan Countryman, GFS alumna of the class of 1958, former faculty, and current School Committee member. 

Malkasian shared his role at GFS, including his dedication to developing the curriculum for the Quakerism class taken by all ninth graders, and his recent experience teaching a Quakerism course in the Essentially GFS program which launched last fall. He concluded his remarks inviting the alumni in attendance to share their GFS stories and reflections with him

These gatherings served as a powerful reminder that the GFS community isn't bound by geography. No matter how much distance lies between 31 West Coulter Street and wherever our alumni call home, GFS graduates continue to find their way back to one another.