Doctor

Helga Mariane (Streicher) Doctor of San Antonio went home to the Lord, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025; on her 85th birthday.

Helga was born in Colatine, Santa Luzia, Espirito Santo, Brazil to missionary Rev. Ernst Walter Streicher and wife Fanny Liesbeth Steinbock-Streicher. The Streichers were living in the interior of the Brazilian jungle, so Helga was delivered by her father as the mid-wife did not arrive on time.

In the Fall of 1948 Helga and her family voyaged from Porto Alegre to the United States on the freighter Delmonte. According to Helga, it was a beautiful fall day, Oct. 8, 1948 when the Delmonte docked in New Orleans, La. The family traveled to Vincennes, Ind. to visit with relatives and eventually settled in Detroit, Mich. where Helga and her siblings (Ralph and Renate) attended parochial school. Helga recalled the experience being very challenging because the lessons were in English and they only spoke German and Portuguese. They quickly learned English.

In September, 1949 the family moved to Wauseon, Ohio where Helga’s father became the pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. Again, in February, 1952, the family moved to Winchester where her father became the pastor of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. It was here that Helga was confirmed (May, 1954) followed by attendance at and graduation from La Grange High School where Helga was Valedictorian and honored as the student “Most Likely to Succeed.” Post graduation, Helga went on to attend Concordia Lutheran College in Austin with a focus on teacher training. Following her graduation in May, 1960, she attended Concordia’s Teacher’s College in River Forest, Illinois. In August, 1960 Helga moved to Glendale, Calif. where in September 1960 through June 1962, she taught grades 1-3 at Zion Lutheran School.

It was at Zion where the “red-headed teacher” met her future husband, “the handsome athlete,” Donald E. Doctor. They were married on June 30, 1962 in Zion Church with Helga’s dad officiating. Following their marriage, Helga and Don moved to Burlingame, Calif., Belmont, Calif. and then Fremont, Calif. where they lived for 38 years. On Oct. 26, 1962 Helga traded in her teaching career for a business career with Western Electric Company. She spent her entire career with the company (WECO / AT&T / Lucent) in Personnel/Human Resources/Benefit Administration and retired in February 2000.

In 2003, Helga and Don moved to Truckee, Calif. to experience retirement in “God’s magnificent creation.” On Sept. 19, 2013, Helga’s beloved husband and companion of fifty-one years was called home to be with the Lord. Helga lived in Truckee for another several years prior to her move to San Antonio where she lived with her oldest son, Richard.

For the last couple of years Helga was staying at the Franklin Park Assisted Living where she was cared for and loved by the staff. Helga will always be remembered as the light that could never be extinguished. She brought joy to so many people simply by listening to them and being interested in their stories. Helga was a treasure and a light for this world and may she now enjoy her treasure in heaven.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Richard Doctor (Maria); daughter, Pamela Nickson (Jeff); son, Dennis Doctor (Jen); grandchildren, Nathaniel Doctor, Simeon Doctor, Cameron Nickson, Kinsley Doctor, Nolan Doctor, and Emery Doctor; nieces, Karen Hardaway-Pettit (Greg) and Margie L. Gross; brother, Ralph Streicher; sister, Renate Hardaway; sister-in-law, Linda Streicher (Harold, deceased), and the countless others that she touched with her genuine kindness and care.

Helga was preceded in death by her husband, Don, her brother-in-law, Thomas Hardaway and her brothers, Walter and Harold Streicher.

A memorial service to celebrate Helga’s life will be held on Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. For more information, please send an email to dsdoctor@ hotmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to the American Heart Association.