SOCIAL

  O.D. SCENE

THE PERSONAL SIDE OF OPTOMETRY

In Memoriam

How do you remember an icon, a recognized optometric leader, a best friend who passed away too early? This is the hardest and saddest editorial I have ever written. Yet, I can’t help but smile when I think about how Larry Alexander, O.D., F.A.A.O., the man to whom this month’s O.D. Scene is dedicated, would react to it: “Jack, Get over it!”

Larry was a friend and mentor to so many of us through his passion for enhancing optometric education and his dislike of the phrase “medical optometry” — he felt it was redundant. He pushed us to excel, especially if we were going to stand on a podium.

His accomplishments are too long to list, so let me tell you about Larry as a person. First, he was a fervent protector of optometry. As an example, if he felt a colleague or industry professional misrepresented a truth or did not follow evidenced-based medicine, he was a bulldog.

When Larry lectured, he’d often say, “Hey guys and girls, this is simple, it is not complicated,” a statement that often elicited chuckles from his regular attendees, as the topic, regardless of what it was, was simple for Larry, but complicated for everyone else. Everything was so clear to him!

The only aspect to Larry that outshined his intelligence was his warmth and loyalty to his friends and family. To be his friend was a forever commitment all were more than happy to make.

I saved the last message he sent me, so I can revisit it and be reminded of his voice of reason. Larry, thank you for being my friend, mentor and for your indelible mark on optometry. We are all better for it. Sweet journeys, my friend, and, if you are able, please see the wonderful things your colleagues had to say about you in the following pages. (Matt Alexander, Larry’s son, has provided photo captions.)

Larry is survived by his wife, Lynn, sons Matt and Dan and his grandchildren Kathryn and Nate. If you would like to donate to the newly established Dr. Larry J. Alexander Scholarship Fund, please visit tinyurl.com/AOAAlexander.

Jack Schaeffer, O.D., F.A.A.O.,
Editor-in-Chief
O.D. Scene

REMEMBERING

LARRY ALEXANDER O.D., F.A.A.O.

“Larry J. Alexander, O.D., F.A.A.O. represented everything that made me want to go to optometry school. When I was applying to optometry schools, I wanted to go to Boston or New York, but my optometrist father insisted on UAB optometry school because of its highly medical flavor, led by people like Larry. When I met Larry, as a first-year optometry student, initially I found him incredibly intimidating. But, a first-year mixer, at which he and his wife, Lynne, were present, he showed me his soft side. After one song, he walked up to me and said “Gaddie, get your butt out here. What are you afraid of, we are just a bunch of ****ing optometrists, get over it!” He left UAB a year later to help run a retina practice in my hometown of Louisville, so there was little doubt where my 4th-year rotation would be. I would soon find his clinical skills were just as excellent as his skills in academia. He trained and asked me the right questions to get me thinking. I didn’t realize it then, but what a phenomenal gift of teaching that touched so many in our profession. Larry was, unequivocally, the best doctor I have ever met, not just in optometry or ophthalmology, but the best of any specialty of healthcare.■”

– Ian “Ben” Gaddie, O.D., F.A.A.O.

1: “Beach living, here we come.” 2: “Just another day in Florida.” 3: Young love at the Indiana University School of Optometry.

“I first met Larry on New Year’s Day, 1980 at a New Years Eve party. We became kindred spirits for the next 36 years. He was passionate about teaching optometrists about the retina, as evidenced by the several books he authored. Larry was the role model for future clinicians/educators, and I will miss him greatly. His honesty, intellect, imagination and curiosity were what set him apart. Optometry has grown since that New Year’s Day with many optometrists now teaching about the retina, with all influenced in some way by Larry.■”

– Murray Fingeret, O.D., F.A.A.O.

“Larry left an indelible impact on the profession and on all who knew him. There are few people that one can say positively affected about 100% of our profession, but Larry was one of those individuals. If you consider that the textbooks we used in school were authored by him, that alone affected every student for decades. Also, his lectures and the time and energy he put into them reinforced what a truly gifted educator he was. Some doctors have incredible knowledge, but can’t communicate it, and others are great communicators, but lack clinical talent. Larry had, arguably, more knowledge than anyone in our field and was an amazing communicator and teacher. Also, he was willing to help with more than just clinical skills and insights. For example, during a difficult personal time in my life, he took time out of his busy schedule to simply listen and provide wisdom like a parent would do in those circumstances.■”

– Paul M. Karpecki, O.D., F.A.A.O.

1: “We love Ma Ma and Pa Pa!” 2: “Make a wish, Pa Pa!” 3: “Hey, this is simple; it’s not complicated.”

“There are few who have changed the face of the profession the way Larry did. He gave of himself in so many ways. He showed me my very first posterior vitreous detachment when I was a technician, well before optometry school. He was the most important early mentor I had and a never-ending source of encouragement when the ‘road less traveled’ got rough at times. In addition, Larry always stood up for what he believed in, fought the battles that needed to be fought and said what needed to be said. He was also one of the most interesting men I have ever known, as he saw hope and happiness in the small things. Larry taught many of us the meaning of man, friend and mentor.■”

– Scot Morris, O.D.

“I don’t think I’ve met someone who was as passionate about his profession, as Larry was about his life. He was a kind-hearted individual who had such strength, charisma and determination. He spent most of his career giving back to the profession and mentoring so many. From the moment I met him, he always reminded me to keep an open mind and to never give up the thirst for knowledge and curiosity. As my mentor, he challenged me and helped me think outside the box. I remember one meeting where I had lunch with him, and we simply discussed life. He said to me, ‘Don’t loose sight of what’s truly important in life by getting too wrapped up in your career.’ He always reminded me how Lynn, his dear wife, was his ‘moral compass and his soul mate.’ I loved his ‘Larrystotle’ comments. I hope to take his advice to heart and to live life to its fullest while never regretting the past.■”

– Diana Schechtman, O.D.

“Larry Alexander was one of those rare individuals who commanded my attention whenever he spoke. He was one of the smartest optometrists we had in our profession. Larry was passionate about the issues in which he was interested and debated vehemently his point of view to those who had other ideas. Although perhaps not correct 100% of the time, his insight was usually deeper than most of us initially thought and, in the end, we naturally came around to his point of view, which, more often than not, was the best solution. Larry was truly an optometric visionary and was a thought leader who I enjoyed very much and listened to with great interest. Optometry will miss him, and so will I.■” OM

– Kirk Smick, O.D., F.A.A.O.