Helen Doss: Passionate for Reading, Politics, and Family

At 12:45 a.m. on the morning of April 11 Helen Doss, a Diamond Bar resident since 1971, slid quietly from life after a brief but valiant battle against cancer.

Born in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, Helen celebrated her third birthday in California. One of four children, she attended public schools in the San Jose area. Helen was the only of her siblings to attend college and against social norms for women of the time, she wanted to be a doctor.

Helen satisfied her yearning for knowledge and a career through studying to be a teacher. In 1959, she graduated with a B.A. from San Jose State College, followed by graduate work at San Francisco State College and UCLA. For pleasure, she sneaked reads of medical books.

The daughter of a minister, Helen was visiting a sister whose husband was the pastor at the Pentecostal Church in La Mirada when the vivacious (then redhead) caught the eye of congregant Gene Doss. Two years later, the couple married.

Helen taught high school English until the birth of their only child, Karen. To provide both parents time at home, Helen moved to adult education. This allowed the couple to tag-team parent, with Helen teaching nights while Gene was home from work, and vice-versa.

In time, Helen moved to teaching in economically disadvantaged areas of the east San Gabriel Valley.

"Teaching wasn’t just a job or just a paycheck," Helen's husband, Gene, said. "She believed in what she did. She believed that given opportunity and help, anyone can achieve."

To raise the rate of graduates prepared for college, Helen determined that teaching high school students to be peer counselors would give them self-help skills. Skeptics emerged around Helen's idea for a before-school program for students not achieving academically, but Helen would not be deterred.

Helen's husband and daughter said she took a calm stance: "Let’s just try it," Helen said. Helen was later honored for her work with the program.

Helen also became known for her conservative politics. Her husband remembers her ability to thoroughly research a subject and debate: "She could argue half day and all the night...," Gene said.

After 38 years in the classroom, Helen retired from the Hacienda-La Puente Unified School District in 1997, which opened an opportunity for Helen to take part in Republican politics. Naturally, her first question to any politician was, "What is your position on education?" For those committed to education, she was a committed volunteer, bringing her willing husband along in a 2 for 1 deal.

Helen's family said she believed reading is core to every aspect of life. When President Bush instituted “No Child Left Behind,” the East San Gabriel Valley Republican Women adopted a school under her guidance. Every Tuesday, for six years, 8-10 volunteers helped second graders with reading.

As President of the group, Helen implemented a project which distributed 5,000 books area-wide. She also volunteered in the local classrooms for seven years during her retirement.

In 2005, then Assemblyman Bob Huff recognized Helen as The Woman of the Year for the 60th Assembly District awards ceremony, sponsored by the California State Legislature Women’s Caucus.

"Education continues to be a top priority for the legislature," Huff said at the time. "Helen Doss has spent a lifetime working as an educator to help students excel, even in retirement."

Helen's family said that those who worked with her recognized the benefit of Helen’s leadership skills that she had honed in the classroom, working to mediate difficult spots and settle nerves.

Helen's skills as a hostess, her family said, allowed her to present opposing positions palatably by serving with good food and charm. Chris Dortignac, fellow member of the 60th Assembly District Central Committee of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County complimented Helen's work and attitude.

"(Helen was) gracious, humble, cheerful, loving, selfless, hardworking, woman who loved to spend time with her grandchildren," Dortignac said. "I observed a woman who accomplished far more in this world than most folks nowadays ever will, because she was not afraid to work tirelessly for that which she loved and believed in."

Helen's family said she was devoted to promoting Sen. Bob Huff’s agenda when she served both as member and president of the 60th Assembly District. Helen's commitment even took her to Sacramento as a delegate to the state party, appointed by Huff, after beginning chemotherapy.

However, Helen's love of teaching and politics was but a shadow of how she loved her family.

“Wherever we walked we were hand in hand," Gene said. "From the very first, to the very end."

Gene said that he and his wife were avid travelers. For Helen's 70th birthday party, her daughter Karen and her husband Scot, treated her parents to an Alaskan cruise.

"For all our parents have done for us, it was something special to show our appreciation," Karen said. "It was the right time (in their lives) and financially we could afford it."

With her mother now gone, Karen adds she and her husband will be “eternally thankful” to have given the gift.

Helen Doss is survived by two sisters, Hazel McDowell of Anaheim and Nita Lee of Encinitas; Helen’s husband, Gene Doss, their daughter Karen Hickey and two grandchildren - Alexandra and Conall Hickey.

Memorial Services will be held Friday at 11:00 a.m. at located at 400 Rancheria, Diamond Bar. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Helen’s name to cancer research.