Ethical Culture Fieldston School’s alumni have gone on to accomplish great things with the lessons and values they learned during their time at the School! We regularly connect with alums to share their stories and the success of their ECFS education.
If you are an alumni and want to share your own story, reach out to alumni@ecfs.org to learn more.
Flying the Nest: Life Beyond ECFS With the Class of 2024
What comes next for our Eagles after graduating from ECFS? Five members of the Class of 2024 reflect on their first year of college, the new and unexpected opportunities they’ve explored, and the advice they have for current ECFS students.
Sophie Basner ’24
“What has surprised me the most about college is the importance of trying new things. You should leave your comfort zone, which I did when I joined a sketch comedy club. It ended up being the best thing for me because it opened so many doors, connected me with amazing people, and helped me discover something I’m passionate about. Leaving Fieldston, I knew that I had two passions of writing and film, and I was very surprised to find another one at college. You can build a new life for yourself in college, and that fresh start is really exciting.”
Remy Lipman ’24
“At Fieldston, I did what I found joy in, whether being a 2D Art major or doing dance, which led me to my current school. This semester, I took a class called “Law on Reproduction and Sexuality,” and it was very different from anything I intended to major in. Now I’m taking another law class next semester and I’m happy I tried something I wouldn’t normally have. Fieldston also prepared me for college through time management, and my college classes feel similar to my City Semester experience in writing and class discussions.”
Amiri Moreno ’24
“Trust that what is for you will show up. Don’t put too much weight on what other people think, and just do what is right for you. At Berklee, everyone’s talented, but I found my group of people, my friends, and I’m excited to watch us grow professionally in the next few years. I worked on 35 songs this semester alone, and I think my younger self would be proud of this accomplishment. If I could go back, I would tell him that things start happening quickly, and once you get here, you’re on the right path.”
Joey Ravikoff ’24
“I continued doing Mock Trial in college, which has been one of the most fun extracurriculars I’ve been a part of. My first-year writing seminar, “Being Human,” involved reading texts from philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and more and discussing both what it means to be human and the college experience itself. I found myself more organized and better prepared than many around me, for which I credit Fieldston. College has been a process of exploration, and I’m excited to take classes in completely new departments next semester.”
Lucia Roure ’24
“At Fieldston, I always had someone to turn to, whether that was a friend or a faculty member. The connections I built were crucial to my development, and now I feel more assured of who I am. It’s not that I didn’t know myself before, but I’ve grown into myself in a stronger way. I’m most excited about the opportunities I know are coming. It feels like I have the entire world at my fingertips, and I’m excited to dive in.”
Alumni Profiles
Marian Brickner ’54
Marian is a celebrated wildlife photographer who has published more than 60 books, had her work featured in “National Geographic Kids,” and been recognized as one of the leading photographers of bonobos apes. We caught up with her to learn more about her time at ECFS sparked a lifelong commitment to approaching the world with curiosity and understanding.
Maxwell Whittington-Cooper ’13
Maxwell found a love for the stage at Fieldston Middle and hasn’t stopped performing since. He shared his journey from “Bugsy Malone” in 8th Grade to playing John Lewis in the upcoming Netflix drama “Rustin” and how he’s carried ECFS’s ethical education with him into his career.
Dr. Gina Gregory Burns ’77
Gina always knew she wanted to be a doctor and after graduating from Fieldston, she went on to study medicine and has been a doctor for over 30 years. She shared with us how her ethical education provided the groundwork for how she uses her practice to address underserved populations and solve disparities in healthcare.
More Alumni Profiles
Jay Lagemann ’62
Jay Lagemann ’62
There was a sculpture placed in October 2022 welcoming the ECFS community to the Tate Library! Jay Lagemann ’62 sculpted the Reading Dog art piece that welcomes the ECFS community to the Tate Library. We spoke to Jay about his path from learning bookbinding at Fieldston Lower to studying math at Princeton and MIT to creating sculptures that allow him to share his joy and happiness with the world. Read Jay’s profile here →
Bob Levey ’62
Bob Levey ’62
Bob Levey’s ’62 love of writing was fostered as a student at ECFS and led to a 55-year career as a writer and columnist at the Washington Post. In April 2023, he visited the Fieldston campus to address students at Community Day and share career lessons and advice for the next generation of journalists. Read Bob’s profile here →
Ira Resnick ‘67
Ira Resnick ‘67
Ira’s storied career as a photographer, gallerist, and real estate investor started with the four years he spent at Fieldston Upper. We talked to him about his favorite spot on campus and how it felt to see his son follow in his footsteps and attend the School. Read Ira’s profile here →
Kim Smith Spacek ’91
Kim Smith Spacek ’91
Kim has been an active member of the ECFS community since starting kindergarten in 1979, staying connected to the School after graduating as a parent, a volunteer, and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. She shared her favorite ECFS tradition and what she misses most about being a student at the School. Read Kim’s profile here →
Gaby Moss ’93 and Alysia Reiner ’88
Gaby Moss ’93 and Alysia Reiner ’88
Gaby Moss ’93 and Alysia Reiner ’88 met in the Resistance Revival Chorus, and their chance meeting over a shared interest in art and activism led to a collaboration that supports the commitment to living an ethical life that these two alumni learned as ECFS students. Read Gaby and Alysia’s profile here →
Jennie Werts ’03
Jennie Werts ’03
Jennie attended ECFS for all 14 years of her education before going on to be the chef and co-owner of two restaurants — Ellen’s on Front and Jennie’s at Drossos — with her brother, Andrew Werts ‘99. We caught up with her to learn about the causes she’s passionate about and a memory from School that makes her laugh. Read Jennie’s profile here →
Franci Girard ’04
Franci Girard ’04
Franci used her ethical education at Fieldston to stay committed to being a moral human being as she built up The Sixes, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand that caters to tall women. Read more about the teachers she’ll never forget and her advice for current ECFS students. Read Franci’s profile here →
Ben Tumin ’08
Ben Tumin ’08
Ben found a love for history during his 13 years at ECFS. We spoke to him about how he shares that passion with others by teaching history in the format of a comedy web series, “Skipped History.” Read Ben’s profile here →
Sam Ravetz ’11
Sam Ravetz ’11
Sam spent his high school years at Fieldston, playing on the varsity basketball team and serving on the Community Service Advisory Board. He shared with us the first question he asks when meeting a fellow Fieldston alum and what the biggest surprise of his career was. Read Sam’s profile here →
Alumni Stories
Words to Remember: Commencement 2025
In the last week of May, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School community gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 at Commencement. As is tradition, three student speakers offered remarks on their time at ECFS, reminiscing on memories that spanned from their first moments at ECFS fourteen years ago through their final weeks as seniors.
ECFS’s Pitch-Perfect Music Program
We spoke to five ECFS alumni — Marissa Arciola ‘99, Myles Cameron ‘15, Dan Knobler ‘07, Andrew Marshall ‘09, and Keith Witty ‘95 — to learn about how the music program at Fieldston Middle and Fieldston Upper inspired and prepared them for their careers in the music industry.
Honoring Glen de Vries ’90 with the Fieldston Science Research Program Fellowship and Endowment
The passion for science that Glen de Vries developed at ECFS was at the forefront of his life until his unexpected passing in November 2021. Read more about how his legacy is living on through the Glen de Vries Science Research Fellowship and Endowment.
2nd Graders and Alumni Team Up to Spread Holiday Cheer
The Fieldston Alumni Network joined Ethical Culture 2nd Graders to give back during the holiday season. Read more about their work for Win, a nonprofit agency that provides shelter for hundreds of homeless families in New York City.
Fieldston Alumni Use Their Love of Science to Advocate for Change
We heard from Vivian Lee ’22 and Jonathan Pollock ’74 about the value of connecting with fellow alumni and how Vivian partnered with Jonathan at the National Institutes of Health to complete her Fieldston Science Research Program summer research commitment.
7 Volunteer Leaders on Connection and Community at ECFS
The Fieldston Alumni Network (FAN) keeps alumni engaged with the School after graduation. For National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we spoke to two members of the FAN Leadership Committee — Nick Kaplan ’88 and Lance Taubin ’06 — who shared why they volunteer with ECFS and the advice they’d give to anyone who wants to get involved.
Generosity, Inspiration, and Memories from ECFS’s Supporters
Our alumni know the value of an ECFS education, and many choose to support the School after they graduate. We talked to Daniel Lederman ’06 along with other members of our community to learn why they give to ECFS.
4 Takeaways from the ASMC Alumni Philanthropy Panel
The All School Multicultural Committee (ASMC) hosted a panel with four alumni — Manuela Arciniegas ’97, Adam Gaynor ’92, Charles Imohiosen ’93, and Leya Petrovani Miller ’10 — to learn more about how their time at ECFS inspired them to seek out careers in philanthropy, at foundations, and throughout the nonprofit sector.