Memory Cafe in San Francisco — 10/14/2025
Tuesday, October 14 @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Free
Join us at Ruth’s Table Curious Minds program as we journey into the powerful role of music-making among LGBTQ communities during the height of the AIDS crisis, when song became both a source of solace and a call to action. We’ll explore how music held memories, told stories of loss and resilience, and brought people together. We’ll even hear live saxophone performances of pieces from the time.
Caring for a loved one with memory loss doesn’t have to be a lonely job. Memory Cafe is a gathering for people experiencing mild to moderate memory loss and their caregivers (spouses, family members, or friends). Enjoy time with your loved one and meet others who are dealing with similar issues in a supportive and welcoming environment.
About this outing: Our session will be led by Dr. Thomas Kurtz, with insights from Reverend Jim Mitulski, whose work with the Metropolitan Community Church nurtured spiritual and musical communities during this era. We will explore how music held memories, told stories of loss and resilience, and brought people together when connection was urgently needed. Thomas will also share live saxophone performances of pieces from this time, creating space for reflection, memory-sharing, and the joy of collective remembrance. Together, we will honor how music carries both grief and hope, weaving personal experiences into a larger tapestry of history and belonging. Dr. Thomas Kurtz is an educator, researcher, arts administrator, and performing artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is an Assistant Professor of Music at University of San Francisco and a professor at San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
San Francisco Memory Cafe meets on many Tuesdays at different locations. Participants must be accompanied by their caregiver.
Please RSVP in advance to Amy Takemoto by emailing her at: MemoryCafe@jfcs.org.