Darryl Meister

SAN DIEGO—A benefit concert to celebrate the life of the late Darryl Meister, an optical authority who made vast contributions to the industry, will be held during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas to benefit his children’s educations. The event, “Music for the Meister,” will be held Friday, September 19 from 9:00 pm to midnight in the Lido Ballroom on the 3rd floor of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The concert will feature The Visionary Band, including some of the best musicians in the optical industry.

Meister died unexpectedly at the age of 42 on July 20. A long-time employee of Zeiss, he was largely self-educated in the field of optics, and was one of the youngest opticians ever to earn the ABO’s Master certification. He held multiple patents on ophthalmic lens designs, and was instrumental in creating many industry standards for lenses. He is remembered throughout the industry for his commitment to the optical industry and his generosity in sharing his expertise.

The concert is the brainchild of David Salk, owner of Focal Point Opticians in Berkeley, Calif. and a veteran of the EyeRock Band, and Mark Shupnick, a long-time friend and colleague of Darryl, with support from Zeiss and the Jobson Optical Group.

"It was my honor to know Darryl both as a mentor and a new friend,” said Salk. “He was a treasure to the optical profession and his loss is a loss for everyone in our industry dedicated to ‘the art of optics’. The best way for us to honor him is to support his children’s education by contributing to the Meister Family Fund, and supporting the continuing education of all eyecare providers."

The suggested donation for admission is $30, payable by cash or check. All of the proceeds will go to the Darryl Meister Family Fund. Donations can be made directly to the fund at gofundme.com/by2nzc.