Editor's Letter
Thoroughly Modern...

Joe Bruneni lost his bout with cancer on March 5. Four years earlier to the day, I sat next to Joe at his 75th birthday party where he swore he'd never retire. And he never did.

Though we pay tribute to Joe in this month's Ask the Labs, his signature column, I want to dedicate this space as well to my friend and EB contributor for 12 years.

Nearly half a century ago, Joe began his tireless journey in our business working in the lab at his dad's optometric practice in Illinois. It seems so appropriate that he came full circle and, though very ill this January, found the strength to spend one final day doing what he loved best--lecturing to his beloved optometric students at the Southern California College of Optometry.

At Joe's memorial service, friends spoke of his contributions to the optical industry and the many roles he filled--educator, consultant, writer, historian, teacher, father, and grandfather.

He loved to learn. Maybe that's what kept him younger than his years. Or maybe it was the grandchildren he loved so much. He was dapper, always a gentleman, and, even after he became ill, still had a devilish twinkle in his eyes.

When I remember Joe, I also think of certain words he wrote--and that I edited out when he used them too often. One of his favorites was "modern." Modern lenses. Modern practices.

Well, I've finally found the perfect context for modern. It's Joe himself. He may have written a book on optical history called Looking Back, but when it came to his own thinking, Joe was always forward-focused.

Sincerely,

Stephanie K. De Long
Editor-in-Chief