FALL 2019
CLASS NOTES: FALL 2019
1930s
1940s
1942
Daniel Nast (MCO) is still practicing at the Mind-Eye Institute in Northbrook, Ill. He is 100 years old.
1950s
1952
C. Clayton Powell (CCO), co-founder of the National Optometric Association, received the NOA’s Living Legend Award during its 50th Anniversary celebration this year.
1960s
1970s
1973
William Adler was selected as a 2019 Hall of Fame recipient by the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce.
1975
Jeffrey Anshel was appointed to the advisory board of Advanced Tear Diagnostics.
1976
Dennis Siemsen was invited to lecture at the Middle East Africa Congress of Ophthalmology in Jordan.
1977
Irwin Azman’s family-owned practice was recognized as one of CooperVision’s Ten 2019 Best Practices nationwide.
Tommy Lim was rated one of the top optometrists in San Jose by the website KevsBest.com.
1980s
1980
Steve Leon was inducted into the Villa Grove High School Hall of Fame.
1981
Sandra Block was the recipient of the prestigious James A. Boucher Award of Excellence for Optometry.
1982
Robert Grazian was named president of the San Diego County Optometric Society.
1987
Al Hein was named the Tom Lawless Keyperson of the Year by the Illinois Optometric Association.
Millicent Knight was named one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical. She was also inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academies of Practice in Optometry.
1988
Capt. Marc Herwitz became the commanding officer of the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity (NOSTRA).
1989
David Roth was named one of the three Best Eye Doctors in Miami by ThreeBestRated.com.
1990s
1991
Scott Jens launched an executive business coaching service called Sandbox.
1992
Mark Colip was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academies of Practice in Optometry.
1995
Kristin Anderson was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academies of Practice in Optometry. She was also appointed as Director of Professional Education – U.S. Vision Care and Dry Eye for Alcon.
2000s
2003
Jarod Kastl has opened Kastl Family Eyecare in Norfolk, Va.
2005
Joshua Baker was promoted to Midwestern University’s Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Pharmacy and Optometry Education.
2006
Christopher DeAngelis was recently promoted to the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Public Health and Aerospace Optometrist at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan.
Alia Santoyo-Johnson became a Fellow in Light Therapy through the College of Syntonic Optometry.
2008
Cmdr. Brian Engesser, Medical Services Corps. and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was the master of ceremonies during the NOSTRA change of command ceremony held in Yorktown, Va.
Christopher Schnelle has joined New Holstein Family Eye Care in Sheboygan, Wis.
2009
Ryan Deibert was named Young Optometrist of the Year by the Wisconsin Optometric Association.
2010s
2010
Mark Burke was named Young Optometrist of the Year by the Illinois Optometric Association.
2011
Thomas Elton was named Young Optometrist of the Year by the Minnesota Optometric Association.
Erica Kosiba joined Advanced Eyecare Clinic in Lake in the Hills, Ill.
Meghan Schutte was appointed to the Texas Optometry Board by the Governor of Texas.
2014
Lucas Flamich and Stephanie Sloan were married on May 4 in Dubuque, Iowa.
Abby Jakob was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year as part of the town of Kingsville, Ontario’s Business Recognition Program.
2017
Bethany Timara (nee Rosenthal) starred in Mamma Mia! at the Looking Glass Playhouse in Lebanon, Ill.
Rachel Hasler got engaged to her fiancé at Devil’s Lake.
2018
Randi Bassik joined Ramsey Eyecare in Charleston, W.Va.
Jenny Lau joined the Eye Care Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wis.
2019
Rees Beaver has joined his father, Paul Beaver, OD '89, at Beaver Eye Care in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Amanda Gerson was elected president of the southwestern society of the Illinois Optometric Association. She is the youngest OD to be a society president.
Dylan Piette has joined Vision Source Professional Eye Care in Statesboro, Ga.
2020s
Friends and Family
Mea Culpa
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The following abbreviations denote predecessor names of the Illinois College of Optometry.
NICO: Northern Illinois College of Optometry
CCO: Chicago College of Optometry
MCO: Monroe College of Optometry
