Board of Directors

It is a pleasure to be involved with a grassroots group that has a clear focus and mission and plays a crucial role in keeping this reborn cultural treasure and its surroundings maintained for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

Mike is a Berkeley native and local history and architecture buff, now working as a journalist, who grew up not far from The Circle and Fountain Walk. He moved away the year the fountain was reconstructed. When he returned to Berkeley in 2011, he moved into the Northbrae neighborhood and began looking for ways to get involved in the community. He joined a volunteer work party at The Circle one Saturday, and soon after joined the FOFW board, where he currently serves as president.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln: “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."

Charles is a Landscape Architect who has lived in the neighborhood of the fountain for over 25 years, participated in the design of the reconstruction of the fountain and produced the construction documents that were used for the rebuilding. He hopes all local residents take pride in their community and in its iconic symbol.

The fountain continues to delight and inspire me with its interplay of light, water, and grizzly bear cub whimsy. It fills me with pleasure each time I see it. The fountain is an integral part of my life in Berkeley.

Suzanne has lived in Berkeley on Spruce Street since 1981, passing the Fountain almost daily. She is a retired educator and financial analyst. She first became involved as a small donor to the restoration of the Fountain and The Circle. She is honored to serve on the Board to support the ongoing work of preserving and enhancing Berkeley’s artistic and architectural heritage.

The fountain is such an integral part of the neighborhood and its history. I walk by it every single day and marvel at how architectural gems like the fountain enliven and beautify the neighborhood with so much character.

Sanketh moved back to Berkeley over a decade after attending Cal for his undergraduate degree. Years after circling around the Bay Area, he and his wife, Solene, fell in love with Berkeley and returned in 2024. Sanketh is a software engineer who previously ran his own technology startup. He joined a work party soon after moving in and excitedly joined the board shortly after.

The fountain wasn’t here when I last lived in Berkeley; it brings me joy whenever I see it and the fact that it is supported and maintained by a group of neighbors and friends makes it all the better.

Pat is a returning Berkeleyan, having lived in the Cragmont neighborhood of North Berkeley in the 80’s and returned in 2014 after a 20+ year absence. Pat joined a work party in 2015 and has recently joined the Board as Secretary.

When we moved to Los Angeles Avenue in 1990 The Circle was overgrown with weeds. It was an eyesore. Now it is beautiful and is a handsome landmark for the North Berkeley neighborhood. The Fountain and Walk reconstruction represents community action at its best, and the fact that it was done solely through neighborhood initiative is a model for other civic improvements. Power to the People!

Jim Reynolds has the enviable title of roastmaster emeritus at Peet's Coffee, which was founded in North Berkeley in 1966 by Alfred Peet.

Berkeley has perhaps the richest architectural heritage of any city in the Bay Area. When we moved to Berkeley from the City 20 years ago, I remember driving around The Circle in the moving truck and feeling a sense of pride that I now lived in a city with treasures such as the Fountain.

Steve is a Principal at the International design firm Gensler. He and his wife Cathy have lived in North Berkeley for 20 years. Steve is honored to join the Board and to play a role in the stewardship and safe-keeping of one of our City’s treasures.