Biographical Note

Dorothea Poulin was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on June 10, 1917. She grew up attending schools in Pittsfield, and in 1935, was one of the first women admitted into Springfield College in a pursuit for bachelors of Physical Education. In fact, she was the College's first full-time female student. While on campus she was a part of the freshman swimming team, an associate editor of the school's yearbook, the Massasoit, a reporter for the Springfield Student, a class officer, and an active member of undergraduate co-curricular programs. Outside of the College, Dorothea was an active member of the West Springfield and Westfield Y.M.C.A.'s, and was a summer camp counselor in South Hanson and Worcester, Massachusetts.

After graduating from Springfield, she continued to be secretary and treasurer of the Class of 1939 and married Mr. Frank Woodside. By the 1970s the couple had been living in Cincinnati, Ohio for some time, where she taught in a high school. Dorothea Poulin passed away on 22 April, 2005 in Cincinnati at the age of 87.

Researched and Written by Emily Gentile (November, 2022)

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