Sad News: Passing of an Academy Stalwart

With great sadness, the Academy announces the passing of 50 year Fellow Ed Walker, on Monday, October 29, 2012. We were very happy to see Dr. Walker receive a spontaneous and enthusiastic standing ovation at Academy 2012 Phoenix in honor of his long-time membership; he greeted almost all of the new Fellows crossing the stage at the Banquet. Dr. Walker was dedicated to the American Academy of Optometry, and a generous donor to its affiliate, the American Optometric Foundation, during his career.

Academy President Dr. Bernard Dolan expressed: "Dr. Ed Walker was a vital force in our Academy, having served as Chair of our Committee on Admittance for many years. Our love and respect for him was demonstrated by both warm individual greetings during the meeting and with the rousing standing ovation acknowledging his 50 years of Fellowship in our Academy at the banquet last Saturday night. We are both shocked and saddened by his passing. We will miss him dearly."

Dr. Walker is survived by his wife, long-time Academy Fellow Dr. Judith Clay, and other loving family members. Dr. Walker's family requests that donations be made in his memory to several charities, among them the American Optometric Foundation.