Dorothy Bircher Potucek

is honored with a Brick from Jana Potucek Lynn.

DOROTHY BIRCHER POTUCEK Sept. 21, 1919 - May 9, 1986 An alumna of Wichita East High School and the University of Wichita, Dorothy had an exuberant personality that could light up a room. In the 1940s, regarded as “the son her father never had,” Dorothy worked alongside her father in the family homebuilding business, walking construction sites and helping manage the finances. She possessed an innate eye for creative design and timeless style. By 1960, Dorothy found herself a divorced, working mother carrying the heavy load. She rose to become general manager of one of Wichita’s early high-rise office buildings and was among the first women admitted to the Wichita Chamber of Commerce. Always emphasizing the importance of education, Dorothy saw all five of her children graduate from college, including two master’s degrees and one PhD. Joseph III (Friends University ’69), Steve (WSU ’70), Jana (WSU ’72), Tricia (WSU ’77), and Kevin (WSU ’84) were shaped by her love, strong work ethic, and deep commitment to family. She was their true heroine, and they built their lives standing on her shoulders.