Editor’s note: Since graduating from Greene Street Friends, Pilar went on to George School, the College of Wooster and Cornell University, where she received her master’s degree in historic preservation. Pilar works just a block away from GSFS as the Operations Manager for Historic Germantown. Pilar is pictured here with her dad, Bud Bretschneider, who was working on a renovation at the Germantown Historical Society. Many will remember that Bud helped renovate the Armat Street building in the 1980s.

Why does staying connected to Greene Street Friends matter to you?

As a younger person, Greene Street Friends was a very central part of my life for nine years. I think it is important to remember where we came from, and some of the experiences we had, and how they have helped to shape who we are today.

School was such a comfortable and safe place. It was a safe place to explore new ideas and take risks. I felt a strong level of trust and confidence in the adults there. I have a fantastic memory from every teacher. One of my favorites was of Mary Austin [the first grade teacher]. One day after it rained, she had us take our shoes off to feel the mud and describe the experience.

In many ways Greene Street Friends felt like more than just a school community to me. My older brother Martin ’83 was two years ahead of me and I knew his class. My friendships moved beyond my grade level. I felt very connected to the faculty and staff as well. The entire GSFS community was important to those formative years.

Why did you want to plan your reunion?

I’ve been working in Germantown now for a few years and I pass GSFS on my way to work. Knowing that this is my 30th reunion, I wanted to be part of the planning for this year’s Alumni Day and to reconnect with old friends.

What are your hopes for your reunion?

I hope that a lot of people can make it for a visit back to campus on April 11! And I hope that those who can’t attend will remember the good memories they have of GSFS and the role it played in who they are today. I’m excited that Anne Mitchell, our PE teacher, is planning to join us – it will be great to see her!

What has the experience contacting classmates been like so far?

It is fun to see what people are up to through Facebook and I’ve also been in touch with people by email, like Sarah Finkle Wertkin, who lives in Toronto, and Jaime Bachrach, who lives in Connecticut. But there are people I haven’t been in touch with for 30 years and I’d love to find out more about what they are up to and what they are doing with their lives.

What about your Greene Street Friends education prepared you for your life now?

The Quaker principles are just a great foundation to develop young minds to be open-minded and caring and conscientious about the world around us.

Growing up in Germantown and walking to school every day laid the groundwork for my graduate studies.  I passed by all these historic places. I became very interested in historic preservation and how people relate to and connect with cultural resources.

I currently am working at Historic Germantown, a consortium of 16 historic sites in this neighborhood. As the operations manager, I am committed to enhancing the economic and cultural development of this community through its historic sites. This combines my background in historic preservation and my love of Germantown. If you interested in this topic, please ask me about it when I see you at Alumni Day!

Pilar has created a Facebook group for her class which you can find here.

For more information about Alumni Day, please click here.