Brian Dolphin,  OD ‘69, is retiring after 42 years of service to his patients and community in Michigan. Read more about how optometry enabled him to travel and about his retirement plans in this story.

Family, friends, staff and community members recently gathered to honor Allan Schoen, OD ‘72, founder of Coldwater Vision Center in Coldwater, Mississippi.

Coldwater Vision has served Coldwater and Tate County since 1978. The center recently underwent numerous renovations. To commemorate the newly remodeled building, Kristopher May, OD ‘01, and Rhetta Conn, OD ‘09, presented Dr. Schoen, and his wife, Sherry, a plaque during a dedication and renaming ceremony.

The newly renamed Schoen Building will continue to provide quality eye care to its many faithful customers. Congratulations to Dr. and Mrs. Schoen!

Photo courtesy: Cathy Tarver

Donald Lubin, OD ‘55, has spent a remarkable life filled with flying adventures and military service, including a stint in the Korean War. Now retired in Arizona, he was recently profiled in this news story about his life and career.

Harold Winston, OD ‘41, a noted Tennessee optometrist who had served as president of the Tennessee Optometric Society during his long career, died on December 19, 2011.

Dr. Winston was the father of two SCO alumni, Jerry Winston, OD ‘67, and Barry Winston, OD ‘74, and the grandfather of a third generation legacy optometrist, Sam Winston, OD ‘11.

Read more about his life or sign his memorial book online here.

Travis Sharpe, OD ‘o6, was recently profiled in a positive story about his journey in becoming an optometrist and attending SCO. Read more in this article from the Salina, Kansas Journal.

Four SCO alumni were among the new Fellows of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD) announced at the COVD’s annual meeting recently held in Las Vegas. Congratulations to:

• Charles Shidlofsky, OD ‘88
• Heidi Wise, OD ‘98
  
• Audra Steiner, OD ‘00
  
• Lynn Lowell, OD ‘08

Several alumni also were named Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting held recently in Boston, including:

• Lindsay Elkins, OD ‘07, SCO faculty
• Melissa Turner, OD ‘08
• Terri Steddum, OD ‘08

Congratulations to all of these alumni for their achievement!

Don Kuehn, OD ‘59, was recently named Humanitarian of the Year by Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) International at the organization’s annual meeting in Boston.

Dr. Kuehn is seen here at right receiving his award from another SCO graduate, Ellis Potter, OD ‘67, the new VOSH International President.

Congratulations to Drs. Kuehn and Potter for their humanitarian service!

Congratulations to Melia R. Robertson, OD ‘10, who recently opened her own private practice! Robertson Eye Center, PA, celebrated with a grand opening and ribbon cutting in Russellville, Arkansas, pictured.

SCO is saddened to report the untimely passing of Brent Hachfeld, OD ’02, who died last Sunday in New Orleans. He was 37. A native of Minnesota, Dr. Hachfeld moved to the greater New Orleans area following his graduation to begin practice.

He was a devoted husband and father, and is survived by his wife, Jennifer Wandell, OD ’02, and a young daughter. The thoughts and prayers of the SCO community, including the Class of 2002, are with Dr. Hachfeld’s friends, family and colleagues.

Following is his obituary notice courtesy of the Optometry Association of Louisiana:

Brent Meredith Hachfeld passed away Sunday, October 16, 2011. A resident of Slidell since 2002, he was born July 23, 1974 to Judith Hartson Hachfeld and the late Donavon E. Hachfeld.

The beloved husband of Jennifer Wandell Hachfeld, he is survived by his daughter, Claire Anne Hachfeld; four brothers: William “Bill” Hachfeld (Dawn), Barrett, Jonah and Joshua Hachfeld; his grandmothers, Mildred Tatge Hachfeld and Evalyn Pike Hartson; one sister-in-law, Gretchen W. Spraul; one brother-in-law, Scott Wandell and three nieces: Amara and Elise Hachfeld and Vivian Spraul. He was the son-in-law of Wayne F. and Betty Lauland Wandell. His grandfathers, Elmer L. Hachfeld, and Dale W. Hartson and two brothers, Zachary and Micah Hachfeld preceded him in death. He is also survived by his faithful dog and friend, “Chewy”.

He was a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, MO and Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. Brent worked as a caring, compassionate optometrist for 9 years at Wal-Mart Vision Center in Slidell, LA and volunteered his services to the Lion’s Club International. He enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling to the beaches of the Caribbean, reading, woodworking, snorkeling and kayaking; but his greatest passion was fishing. He was eternally devoted to his “two girls”, loving wife Jen and his darling daughter, little “Claire Bear”. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and patients.

A wake is scheduled for Sunday, October 23, 2011 at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W. 21st Ave. Covington, LA 70433 from 4-7:00 PM with a time to memorialize and share memories beginning at 6:30 PM.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, October 24, 2011 at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens in Covington, LA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Claire Anne Hachfeld Benefit Fund” at any Capitol One Bank.

Southern College of Optometry Professor Glen Steele, OD ‘69, was named the recipient of the 2011 William Feinbloom Award at October’s meeting of the American Academy of Optometry in Boston.

The Feinbloom Award is given to an individual who has made a distinguished and significant contribution to the advancement of clinical practice, and thus, to the visual enhancement of the public.

Dr. Steele’s more than 40 years of service to optometry, optometric education and pediatric vision was cited, along with his leadership role in the AOA’s InfantSEE Program, for which he serves as the AOA’s InfantSEE Chairman.

Congratulations to Dr. Steele!