Meet BPWA’s new board members: Bob, Tamara, Bob, Kathy, and Jen

As we roll into the new year, Berkeley Path Wanderers Association said goodbye to two board members, President Alina Constantinescu and path-builder Francesca Verdier, and welcomed 5 new members: Bob Gomez, Bob Johnson, Jennifer Pellman, Kathy Moreno, and Tamara Gurin.

We asked Bob, Tamara Bob, Kathy, and Jen 3 questions to get to know them better and learn more about what they hope to contribute on the BPWA board.

Bob Gomez (path-building liaison)

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Southern California. I came to Berkeley to visit my cousin, a Cal undergrad, in 1963. I was wildly impressed by this town with the hills, the redwoods, and the Bay nearby.

I moved to Berkeley in the early ’80s and retired from a long career with Caltrans in 2007. Sometime after 2010, I discovered the BPWA and have volunteered many hours with the path-building crew.

Since retiring, my most satisfying efforts have been in the area of student mentoring, helping young people from Mexican families like mine to reach college and stay in college. I've been "Uncle Bobby" to a number of students who I've helped financially, academically, and as their lead cheerleader in pursuit of big dreams. One student of mine is now an OR nurse, another a recent engineer grad, and two others now in high school aspire to be doctors someday.

2. How did you become interested in Berkeley's paths?

I don't actually remember how I became interested in the paths, but once I began path building I've grown to love the teamwork, the collaboration as we figure out how we go about building each path, and the pride that comes with building something that's used by so many people.

3. What do you hope to achieve as a BPWA board member?

I hope to see us continue to support our path-building efforts, that is building new paths and maintaining and improving our existing path network.

Tamara Gurin

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have been a Berkeley resident since 2009. I recently retired from a long career in IT. I am an avid hiker and backpacker and love being outdoors. I prefer walking over any other means of transportation. Berkeley seems like a perfect place for a walking enthusiast like me.

2. How did you become interested in Berkeley's paths?

Soon after moving to Berkeley, I stumbled upon a stairway hidden in between two houses. It was love from the first sight. What a way to move around town, away from cars and traffic jams! I later learned about The Map, which I promptly purchased from Ace Hardware on University. I was hooked. With the map in hand, I started exploring Berkeley, and it is still one of my favorite things to do around town. The map naturally led me to BPWA, and I have been a member since.

3. What do you hope to achieve/contribute as a BPWA board member?

Besides serving their utilitarian purpose of emergency escape routes, Berkeley stairways and pathways take us, urban dwellers, outside our homes straight into the stunning beauty of the East Bay and surrounding hills. I am a big fan of the book Quirky Berkeley, by Tom Dalzell, which opens the readers to the charm and unique character of Berkeley.

While on the BPWA board, I hope to restart the art project, aiming to beautify our beloved stairways and pathways and turn them into an outdoor exhibit of the art and the spirit of Berkeley. It is going to be a big challenge to obtain the funding and recruit the right artists to do it well, but I am hopeful and excited!

Robert Johnson

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in the St. Louis area, attending Washington University and initially thinking I wanted to be an architect. I decided I was not cut out to be one but still enjoy architecture very much, and Berkeley is a great place for it. After college, I was in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Philippines for 3 years and then I lived in Japan 13 years, mainly working as a researcher in the financial industry. I returned to the U.S. in 1985, settling on Grizzly Peak near Euclid with my Japanese companion, Tatsuya. (We finally married a few years ago when it became legal for a couple of guys.) I also worked part-time for many years with Steve Price, who does amazing photo-realistic transformation images of better urban design. I served as a board member and volunteer (including outings leader) with Greenbelt Alliance for 30 years. We love hiking and walking in the Bay Area and cooking with the wonderful range of ingredients available here. Around 2013 or 2014, Janet Byron and I decided to make a book of self-guided walking tours for Berkeley, Berkeley Walks, and were delighted to get it published in 2015, with a second edition in 2018.

2. How did you become interested in Berkeley's paths?

Walking my neighborhood in the hills, I began noticing these paths and stairways, which often became an integral part of various walks I took for the different views of yards and gardens and for the extra connections that they provided.

3. What do you hope to contribute as a BPWA board member?

I hope as a board member I can help BPWA increase its fundraising capabilities, and I also intend to keep leading walking tours. I feel very honored to be on the board of such an important local organization.

Kathy Moreno (secretary)

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have lived since 1985 in the Berkeley flatlands, where my daughter and two teenage grandsons also live. I am a work-at-home private appellate attorney specializing in death penalty appeals.

2. How did you become interested in Berkeley's paths?

I have long been a walker, a hiker, and a climber, but when my knees gave out I had to give up the hiking and climbing, and started looking for a walking group. When I saw the BPWA website, it was love at first sight.

3. What do you hope to contribute as a BPWA board member?

I enjoyed my first outing with the path maintenance group and look forward to assisting in other BPWA projects in any way I can, including the most recent efforts in improving pedestrian safety in Berkeley.

Jennifer Pellman (newsletter editor)

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My family and I moved to Berkeley in 2013, and I loved exploring the city on foot from the get-go. Before the COVID era, I worked in the arts (textiles) and architecture. When COVID arrived, I decided to use the time to shift careers and become a copyeditor. I just finished my certificate program this fall.

2. How did you become interested in Berkeley's paths?

I take the paths to run errands and visit with friends. I'm from Illinois — an area of the country that was ironed flat by glaciers — so I'm continuously thrilled to be in this land of hills, tunnels, and bridges. It can all be taken in from the views of our wonderful paths.

3. What do you hope to contribute as a BPWA board member?

In addition to continuing to keep our newsletter and events accessible, I look forward to contributing to BPWA's growth.