Euclid founder George Glady passes away at 73

(Image Credit: St. George-Forsythe Funeral Home)

George Glady, a founder of Euclid Vision Corp., passed away recently in Sarasota, Florida at the age of 73.

An industrial engineer and entrepreneur, Glady enjoyed a successful career as a contact lens designer and manufacturer, and enjoyed a goal of correcting vision. At the start of his career, traditional contact lenses were the norm, but he looked for a better alternative for those who suffered from nearsightedness and other refractive errors.

With his wife, Joann Simonsen, Glady focused on improving patients' lives and set out on a quest to develop a groundbreaking solution, which he did with the introduction of Euclid Emerald lenses.

In a news release, the company noted that Glady conducted research throughout the years, and with the help of fellow experts as well as experimentation and collaboration, he developed the concept of the Ortho-K contact lenses.

“This innovation has brought hope to countless children and adults who struggled with traditional glasses or contact lenses, most importantly impacting the progression of nearsightedness in young children,” the company said in its news release.

Moreover, Ortho-K contact lenses are viewed as a trusted alternative for vision correction, due in large part to Glady’s work.

“His pioneering spirit and leadership of the Ortho-K industry will always be remembered,” the company added in its news release. “It is remarkable that his life’s work has positively impacted millions of patients around the world. “

Born October 20, 1949, in Dansville, New York, Glady had a wide range of interests outside of his work. He was a history buff and enjoyed travel, both nationally and internationally. As an avid baseball fan and traveler, Glady attended baseball games in almost every major league park in the US.

He was also an enthusiastic woodworker, collected trains, and was passionate about bluegrass music, which he would sing and listen to.

Glady also enjoyed bowling, as a member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), Glady was proud to have had a "sanctioned 300" game.

Glady was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Harriet Glady.

In addition to his wife of 46 years, Glady is survived by his daughter, Laura Valentine Glady of Sarasota; his sisters and their husbands, Antoinette and Gerald Thompson of Fairport, New York, and Evelyn and Paul Lucas of Alexandria, Virginia; along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Contributions in memory of George E. Glady may be made to:

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC.org) an international relief organization, GPLI (Gas Permeable Lens Institute, a contact lens educational organization, or Wayland Historical Society.