Lasting Memories

Joan Poulter
Sept. 1, 1931-March 7, 2018
Oakland, CA

Joan Poulter, who founded and fostered programs to combat and overcome the inequities in educational opportunities throughout the Bay Area, died unexpectedly on March 7 at age 86.

Born in Modesto, California, she graduated from Berkeley High at age 16, and UC Berkeley in 1952, majoring in English. She pursued a 37-year career in elementary education, focusing on students with severe emotional challenges.

After earning her degree at UC Berkeley, Joan had returned to school to obtain a teaching certificate. She said that, at the time, options for college-educated women entering the workforce were primarily limited to being a nurse, a secretary, or a teacher, and she chose “the least evil option.” That choice led to a lifetime of devotion and service in furthering the education of young people.

Beginning in Hayward 1957, Joan taught 6th and then 2nd grade. After moving to Menlo Park in 1960, she ultimately focused on working with children who had severe emotional challenges. When she retired in 1994, Joan had the longest tenure of any teacher in the district at that time, and according to family lore, had missed only two days of teaching over the course of her entire career; that is, except for one special year.

Joan met Howard Poulter, a prime mover at Hewlett-Packard, in 1968 when they were both serving on the board of the Palo Alto YMCA. Joan was a single parent with two teenagers; Howard a single parent with four teenagers. Both had found the love of their lives. They married in April 1969 and each took a year off from work to dedicate themselves full time to the blending of their families. When Howard returned to work, he decided to leave H-P and took up teaching Engineering and Mathematics at Chabot and Merritt Colleges. Joan continued her teaching career in Menlo Park, and the couple moved to Oakland in 1975. They were married for 44 years."

Following retirement in 1994, Joan and husband Howard founded the Lafayette School Mentoring Project, now Boost! West Oakland, which matches students from non-affluent circumstances with mentors/tutors to improve academic skills and engender a love for learning. In its 21 years, the program has encouraged over 2,100 students to greater educational accomplishment.

The Poulters also spearheaded the McClymonds Merit Award program. Since 2001, this program has guaranteed each entering high school student, upon graduation, a stipend for two years of college. In addition, Joan was active in the Oakland Public Library’s Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, and the Greater Good Science Ctr.

Joan Poulter was predeceased by her husband Howard in 2013. She is survived by a brother, Donald; two children, David and Catherine; four stepchildren, Chris, Todd, Bruce and Chuck; eleven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and several thousand former students and tutees.

A festive Celebration of the Life of Joan Poulter will be held on Sunday, April 22nd, at 3 p.m., at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Boost! West Oakland, the McClymonds Merit Award Program, the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, United for a Fair Economy, or a donation in Joan’s memory to your favorite charity.