In Loving Memory

Posted 05/25/2009

Posted 03/27/2009

Dr. Daniel Houghton Jr.

Dr. Daniel Houghton Jr., age 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family on March 24, 2009, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

He was born in Pensacola, Fla., and was preceded in death by his parents, Myrtle and Daniel; and sister and brother-in-law, Gerry and Claude Bailey. He is survived by his wife, Brenda; mother-in-law, Mariece Herring; sons, Chuck Houghton (Becky) and Kevin Roberts (Marcie); daughters, Carla Houghton and Karen Brewer (Bruce); grandchildren, Chad Houghton, Linnea Brewer, Matthew Brewer, Alexxa Roberts, Andy Galvan and Amber Roberts; niece, Dayna Broxson (Bart); and nephews, Danny Bailey (Suzanne) and Steve Bailey (Merlene).

After graduating from Pensacola High School (1946), Dr. Houghton joined the U.S. Army and served his country in the Korean War. In 1953, he graduated from the Southern College of Optometry (SCO), who also bestowed him with the Doctor of Ocular Science in 1992.

Upon graduating from SCO and practicing with another optometrist in Pensacola, he opened his own successful practices in Milton, Fla., and then in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. After retiring from private practice he joined the practice of Dr. Samuel Poppell, where he served as a consultant for the past 12 years.

In July 2008 he was presented with the Distinguished Life Service award by the Florida Optometric Association (FOA). The award encap-sulated many years of service and acknowledgements.

Dr. Houghton was active in the FOA throughout his distinguished career, having served as president from 1979 to 1980. In addition to serving on the FOA Board of Trustees, he was very active in his local society, serving three terms as president of the West Florida Optomet-ric Association.

With the support of his FOA peers, Dr. Houghton became actively involved in the national association and served as President of the American Optometric Association from 1993 to 1994.

In addition to a lifetime of advocacy for the optometry profession, Dr. Houghton was also involved in numerous activities in service to his community. He served two terms as President of the Santa Rosa County Jaycees, receiving the Jaycee of the Year award in 1961 and was elected for a four-year term to the Santa Rosa School Board with two years as Chairman of the Board. He was appointed by the Governor to a four-year term on the Airport and Industrial Authority and was instrumental in the development of the five airport facilities in Santa Rosa County. His community involvement also included serving on the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club, and he was recognized by Santa Rosa Lions Club for his work in their Sight Conservation Program. He also served as President of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce in 1990.

Dr. Houghton was proud to be a member of the BPOE 1795 Elks, Masons and Shriner organizations.

He will be remembered by his family and friends, not only for his accomplishments and lifetime of service, but for his love of hunting, fish-ing and the Florida Gators.
All services will be held in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E. Funeral services will be conducted at First United Methodist Church, 103 First St. S.E. on Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m., with burial at Beal Memorial Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception at Brooks Beal Center, 100 Beal Parkway N.W., directly following the service.

Emerald Coast Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Posted 11/03/2008

Dr. Edward F. Rusnak

Dr. Edward Frank Rusnak, 79, died November 1, 2008. Originally from Blue Island, Illinois, he lived in Vero Beach for over 43 years. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Pullman Tech High School. Dr. Rusnak received his degree in Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Lance Corporal Rusnak was a decorated Army medic who went on to appreciate the practice of medicine during a successful 38-year Optometric practice. Dr. Rusnak retired to enjoy golf and his own various innovative and creative culinary delights with his extended family and friends. Dr. Rusnak was a choir director for 17 years and one of the active founders of Holy Cross Catholic Church. He was a Third Degree Knight of Columbus, a past member of the Dodgers Pines Golf & Country Club, a long time member of the Exchange Club of Vero Beach, a vocal performer in many Theater Guild productions and die-hard fan of the Chicago Bears and The University of Florida Gators. He was active in Boy Scouts of America and his two sons achieved the honor of Eagle Scout. He has a true dedication to the Vero Beach Fighting Indians as a member of the Quarterback Club. Ed was famously known as the "Voice of the Fighting Indians" for over 34 years, calling his beloved Indians on to victory announcing his final game on Friday, October 31, 2008. His immediate family include his wife of 55 years, Jean Udziela Rusnak of Vero Beach, FL; son, James Rusnak (Pam) of Lake Charles, LA; daughter, Terri Strazzulla (Philip) of Vero Beach, FL; daughter, Jane Forbus (Jeff) of Tampa, FL; son, Stephen Rusnak (Laura) of Melbourne, FL. He dearly loved and took great pride in his grandchildren: Christopher, Jonathan, Matthew, Allison, Amelia, Amanda, Andrew, Michael and David. Your continued support of our U.S. Military throughout the world would honor Dr. Rusnak's memory. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Amanda Lee Foundation, advancing sarcoma research and a cure for adolescent cancer, in care of Dr. Doug Letson & Jeff Williams, 4114 West Palmira, Tampa, FL 33629 OR The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, P.O. Box 016960(R-48), Miami, FL. 33101 SERVICES: Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at Strunk Funeral Home, 916 17th Street, Vero Beach, FL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Vero Beach, FL.

Posted 08/04/2008

Dr. Charles E. Wyett, Jr.

Dr. Wyett passed away on April 27, 2008 after complications from having experienced a stroke in 2005.

Posted 07/17/2008

Dr. Morton Silverman

It is with deep sympathy that I share the sad news of Dr. Mort Silverman's death. Mort dedicated his life to Optometry. We are all grateful for those whose lives he touched.

The funeral service will be Monday-July 14th @ 1:45pm at Beth Israel. It is on Jog & Woolbright. Shiva will be Mon, Tues & Wed night at Barbara Silverman's.

Her phone # 561 470-9238 for more details. Her home address: 21774 Marigot Dr. Boca Raton, FL 33428

PLEASE PASS THIS INFO ON TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT WANT TO PAY THEIR CONDOLENCES.

Posted 06/16/2008

Dr. William H. Wood

WOOD Dr. William H. Wood, 82 died from an unfortunate accident Wednesday June 11, 2008 while vacationing in Las Vegas. He was born in Ft. Lauderdale and had lived in Jacksonville since infancy. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Thelma; three children, Debbie Hobin, John Wood and Margie Fox and their families including 6 grandchildren-Tommy and Kellie Hobin, Lauren and Hudson Wood, and Talley and Leah Fox and a daughter in law, Sherry Wood and two son in laws, Ed Hobin and John Fox that he loved as his own. Dr. Wood was the founder of the optometric practice of Drs. Wood, Lanier, Bowman & Rogers and had retired in 1991. Active in the affairs of his profession, he was a past president of the Northeast Florida Optometric Society and of the Florida State Board of Optometry, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. He held memberships in Sigma Alpha Sigma and Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Societies. He was also president of the 1944 class of Lee High School, maintained a roster of its members, and organized its reunions. He failed to make the football team at the University of Florida, but was proud to have started every game at center for the 1943 Lee Generals. A forty year member of the Jacksonville Exchange Club, he served as its president in 1961. Although not a Rotarian, he was made a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 1996. Active in the Masonic order, he was a Perpetual Life Member of Arlington Lodge #309, Honorary Member of Fernandina's Amelia Lodge #47, Solomon Lodge #20 and of Riverview Lodge #306. He was a York Rite and Scottish Rite Mason, serving as the latter's Commander of the Knights Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH) in 1989. He later attained the designation of Inspector General Honorary of the 33rd Degree. He served as Director of Court #90 of the Royal Order of Jesters in 1971 and was Potentate of Morocco Shriners in 1981. He had held the position of Representative to the Imperial Council of the Shrine of North America since 1980, and was elected Representative Emeritus at the 1995 Annual Session. Dr. Wood was a member of the Florida Yacht Club and had formerly held memberships in the River Club, Seminole Club and Timuquana Country Club. He was also a Charter member of the University Club and had served on the Board of the 200 Club. An ardent outdoorsman, he was the senior member of Roads End Hunt Club in Glynn County, Georgia. His greatest pleasure of the hunting harvest was to provide venison for family and friends. He had a penchant for oak trees, planting hundreds of seedlings in his neighborhood and in his hunting areas of three states. He loved Florida, Jacksonville, and the St. Johns River and its tributaries. One of his proudest accomplishments was driving into 48 states and several Canadian provinces during the 1960s with his wife and their three teenage children. A member of the Ortega United Methodist Church since 1957, he had served that church and previously the Riverside Park and Arlington Methodist Churches as a member of the Official Board. A Charter Member of the local Order of the Arrow Chapter, he was a member of the national Eagle Scout Association and held a B.S. degree from Jacksonville University and the O.D. degree from Southern College of Optometry. His education was interrupted for nearly two years of naval duty toward the close of WWII. Hardage-Giddens Edgewood Funeral Home (729 S. Edgewood Ave.) Jacksonville, FL is in charge of the family crypt side service to be held at Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd. Dr. Wood had requested a celebration of his life with family and friends be held immediately following the crypt side interment. It will be held Tuesday, June 17 at 4:00 PM at the Florida Yacht Club where friends will meet for refreshments and reminiscences with the Wood Family. Friends may offer memorials in his honor to the Morocco Shrine Building Fund or the Shriners Children's Hospital Transportation Fund. Please Sign the Guestbook @ www.Jacksonville.com

Updated 06/11/2008

Dr. William Harman

Dr. Paul Harman of Tallahassee recently lost his father [Dr. William Harman, O.D.] after an extended period of illness. Regrets and prayers to Dr. Paul Harman and his family as they celebrate the life of his father who was active in organized Optometry for many years prior to his retirement. A memorial service will be held on Thursday June 12th from 5:00 - 7:00pm at Tillman Funeral Home, 2170 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach. The family request that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to Jog Road Baptist Church, 855 Jog Rd., West Palm Beach, 33415

Posted: May 23rd 2008

Dr. Gerardo Palmeiro

This past weekend Optometry had a great loss in Dr. Gerardo Palmeiro.

Gerry as we all knew him was a wonderful doctor, father, grandfather and friend. Gerry was a widower for 48 years never remarried and dedicated his life to his only daughter and then his granddaughters. As an Optometrist he was a great asset to the profession, past president of the DCOA.

He is survived by his daughter, son-in law and granddaughters.