In early March, members of the Bowdoin community in greater San Francisco gathered together for small dinners around the region in the third Bay Area Dinner with Six+ Polar Bears. Hosted in the homes of alumni and parents, the event connected over 60 people. The event is modeled after the campus program Dinner with Six Strangers, which brings together students, faculty and staff for new connections.

“I think it’s a great idea to do these dinners,” noted Margi Power ’90 who made a reconnection with one guest from whom she learned she had met years before she ever went to Bowdoin when he worked with her father.  Margi and her husband, Tom, were hosts at the Hillsborough dinner.

“We had a wonderful time at Merel’s and lots of good discussions,” said Laura Foulke ’91 who attended the dinner in Mill Valley with hosts Merel Kennedy ‘93 and her husband and fabulous cook, Adrian Lurssen. “While life is full for all of us, it was a perfect excuse to get together and a great way to spend a Sunday evening.”

Michelle Keene ’87 who, with her husband Mark Tellini ’87, hosted one of the San Francisco dinners remarked, “We truly enjoyed connecting with these wonderful Polar Bears across the three decades from the Classes of 1987-2017.” Michelle and her friend Anne Marie Sanders ’87, host of the dinner across the Bay in Albany, went all out decorating their tables with a Bowdoin theme. Anne pulled out her Bowdoin plates!

Other hosts included:

• Andrea Fish ’82 and Steve Roth P’19 in Palo Alto – who had three Bowdoin alumni wines to share;
• Shauna ’05 and Vinay ’05 Kashyap in San Francisco – who hosted in Lower Pacific Heights;
• Janet and Albert Wetter P’19 in San Francisco – who took their guests on the rooftop for views of the Golden Gate Bridge;
• Holly ’90 and Mitch ’91 Zuklie in Woodside – who took the only selfie photo.

For a full photo story of the evening, click here. Thanks to the hosts for opening their homes, and to all who participated in growing the Bowdoin network.