Dr. Leonard Osias, center, with Al
Leck, left, former CEO of Vision Care Specialists and president of PEN and Carl Moore, former president of ABB Con-Cise, in an undated photo.
SAN DIEGO—Primary Eyecare Network (PEN) reported that one of its founding members, Leonard Osias, OD, passed away here on November 15. He was 95 years old. PEN credits Dr. Osias, along with a handful of professional colleagues, as being the inspiration and founders of the organization, which began in 1984. “Without his vision and dedication, PEN and its support for independent optometry would not exist,” PEN said in a statement. Dr. Osias was born in New York on October 19, 1924. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and later went to UC Berkeley on the GI Bill. He graduated from UC Berkeley School of Optometry and started private practice in San Lorenzo, Calif. In addition to private practice, Dr. Osias was a clinic professor at the School of Optometry for 20 years as well as an active leader in his profession. He was an avid tennis player who continued to take lessons well into his nineties.

In a message to his fellow board members, PEN advisory board chair, Steven Faith, OD, FAAO wrote, “Needless to say, Dr. Osias was a visionary and a unique and special friend to the profession and was the heart and soul of what PEN continues to do to keep independent optometry independent.”

Primary Eyecare Network is a division of ABB.