— SPECIAL NEIGHBOR —

Retiring E.O. Smith gym teacher isn't slowing down

By MIKE SAVINO
Chronicle Staff Writer

MANSFIELD — While Joan Doiron is beginning her retirement after 32 years as a teacher at E.O. Smith High School, she still plans to remain busy.

Doiron, who first became a physical education teacher at E.O. Smith in 1978, said she still has plenty of community service projects and other endeavors to keep her busy.

"I've been involved in a lot of programs, but I don't see myself going cold turkey," said Doiron, who has been active with many organizations since moving to eastern Connecticut.

She was named a "Ray of Sunshine" by WILI and Mohegan Sun in 2006 in recognition of her work with the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Special Olympics and other organizations.

Doiron said she is always willing to help anyone in need, a trait she learned from her family while she was growing up in Lancaster, Pa.

She said people would frequently come to her father for help with small projects and she quickly learned the value of coming to the aid of those in need.

"I've pretty much always been involved in community service," she said.

Along with her Ray of Sunshine award in 2006, Doiron has been recognized numerous other times for her community service.

Joan Doiron recently retired after 32 years of teaching at E.O. Smith High School.

She has also received multiple awards for her work as a teacher, including a professional service award from the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in 2007.

Doiron said she originally planned to become a nurse, joining other women in her family, but she felt too sympathetic for some of the patients with more serious conditions.

"I wouldn't be able to turn it off," she said about the sympathy the would have felt for some of the patients.

Doiron said she used that as motivation to become a physical education teacher because she would then have the chance to work with students and try to prevent serious physical problems later in life.

But she said physical educattion classes help encourage better mental and social health, which she said are just as important as physical health.

"What we teach in PE class is not meant to be used in just a physical way," she said.

Doiron graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1977 from the University of Delaware and came to E.O. Smith the following year.

She would eventually receive a master's degree in physical education from Central Connecticut State University.

And even though Doiron is retiring, she plans to stay involved with E.O. Smith by helping other employees handle the department's filing system.

She also plans to help various sports teams by volunteering at games and will also continue to offer CPR and first aid classes.

Doiron said she intends to stay active with various community area organizations, especially the American Cancer Society and the Special Olympics.

She also leads a folk music group at the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in Mansfield and participates in a group of volunteers who take part in missionary trips to sing sacred music for prison inmates.

She said it is easy to volunteer so often because so many other area residents also volunteer to provide other support to these organizations.

"This is just a phenomenal, phenomenal community we live in," Doiron said.