elen Poulsen Glyer was born September 24, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were Anders and Ingeborg Poulsen. She graduated in 1936 from Iowa Falls High School and Ellsworth Junior College in 1938. Helen received a BS in Physical Education from the State University of Iowa in 1940 and a M.Ed. in Physical Education, Recreation and Social Work from the University of Minnesota in 1943. She also took additional courses in journalism, international relations and industrial relations and psychology. From her graduation from the State University of Iowa in 1940 through receiving her Master’s, she taught Physical Education in Colorado and at the University of Minnesota. World War II interrupted her teaching career as she served with the American Red Cross as a program director and assistant club director in Norwich, England and Bremen, Germany. Upon her return she accepted a position as coordinator of recreation curriculum at the State University of Iowa from 1946-48 and following that was a professor at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California until her retirement in 1975. In addition to her teaching, Helen, served on many committees, held membership in several professional organizations and was the recipient of many honors and awards. She served as student advisor in the Recreation department at San Francisco State as well as faculty sponsor of Sigma Delta Gamma, and on university sabbatical, student affairs, and grievance and promotion committees. She held membership in the California Parks and Recreation Society, National Parks and Recreation Association, World Leisure and Recreation Association and Chi Kappa Rho, the National Women’s Recreation Sorority. Helen also served as an officer of both the San Francisco State University Faculty Club and the university’s Retirement Association. She was the recipient of many honors and awards including being named an outstanding faculty member in 1957 and 1962, California State Colleges Outstanding Teacher in 1968 and was recognized for her volunteer efforts by the California Parks and Recreation Society in 1969 and through a commendation by the President pro Tempore of the California State Senate in 1998. Helen spent countless hours doing volunteer work with youths with disabilities. While in college she spent her summers working at various youth camps and since 1956 served on several committees involving youths with disabilities as well as the Camp Fire Girls and recreation concerns. She has also traveled extensively spending time in Switzerland, the Greek Islands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Mexico and the Pacific and Orient. In 1950, she married Dr. Richard Glyer, a professor of Theater Arts at San Francisco State. He passed away in 1998. Helen and Richard have one, son, Todd, who was born in 1952. Helen was consistently a strong supporter of Ellsworth Community College. She hosted several alumni reunions in the San Francisco area. Her enthusiasm and charm always made a visit with her a delightful experience. Helen passed away on November 4, 2016 surrounded by her family.