Helen Mary Thorton Wentzel grew up in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA.

She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher in the Finneytown Local School District in the fall of 1954, and began full-time teaching at Finneytown High School when the school opened it doors in 1959. Two of her three children graduated from Finneytown in the ‘60’s.

Helen taught Latin throughout her career, which grew to include social studies classes, counseling and serving as dean of students. Her Contemporary Civilization class was a popular senior social studies seminar, and the later years of her career she also taught American History. For many years she was advisor of the National Honor Society. She also organized and coordinated the usher corps during her years at Finneytown before retiring in 1982.

Helen was highly respected and well-liked by students and colleagues alike. For many of her students, taking her class exposed them to their first term paper experience, which proved to be a daunting task. Her high standards challenged her students to excel, and excel they did. This demanding and supportive educational environment created by Helen and others helped to build the Finneytown tradition.

Helen’s students were nurtured by a loving, charming, elegant, classic example of the best teaching has to offer.