Stanley Pearle, OD
DALLAS—Vision care pioneer and optical industry icon, Stanley Pearle, OD, founder of Pearle Vision, died here on July 21 at age 92.

According to a statement from the company, Dr. Pearle passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends.

Perhaps best remembered by the iconic jingle, “Nobody cares for eyes more than Pearle,” Pearle built the foundation of his business around what he called a “culture of friendly service.” By combining quality eyecare, friendly service and savvy marketing strategy, Pearle became a nationally recognized brand name and the first optical retailer in America to sell eyewear coast-to-coast.

“Dr. Stanley Pearle was our patriarch and we’ll honor his legacy the way we always have—by remaining committed to the ideals and service excellence he built the Pearle Vision brand upon from the very beginning,” said Seth McLaughlin, executive vice president and general manager of Pearle Vision.

Pearle founded Pearle Optical in 1961 with a single store in Savannah, Georgia. In 1981 he began offering franchises, and in that same year he established the Pearle Vision Foundation—a non-profit now known as the OneSight Research Foundation. The OneSight Research Foundation supports eye health research and invests in students pursuing a Doctor of Optometry degree via the Dr. Stanley Pearle Scholarship Fund. Since its inception in 2007, the fund has awarded a total of $140,000 in scholarships to 70 students.

The OneSight Research Foundation is an arm of OneSight, a family of vision care programs dedicated to providing vision care and eyewear to those in need around the world and here at home. To date, OneSight has helped more than eight million people receive quality, free eyecare and eyeglasses. Philanthropic efforts were close to Dr. Pearle’s heart and outside of the work he did for the OneSight Research Foundation he devoted his time and leadership efforts to the United Way and Jewish Welfare Foundation.

More than 40 years and 675 company and franchise stores later, Pearle Vision has locations across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Pearle Vision is wholly owned by Luxottica Group.

“I am honored to represent the Pearle Vision franchise community in remembering our founder and mentor, Dr. Stanley Pearle,” said Frank D. Plumb, chairman, Pearle Vision National Franchise Advisory Council. “He was a vibrant man with an amazing memory and a caring heart. He asked us to be the best in the optical industry and always exhorted us to ‘take care of the people.’ Dr. Pearle took care of his people for 50 years and he will be greatly missed,” Plumb said.

Pittsburgh-native Pearle graduated from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in 1939 and relocated to Dallas, Texas to take his board examinations and later marry his high school sweetheart, Elsie. He served in the U.S. Navy for a few years and after World War II worked for several eyecare companies, rising to a management position with Lee Optical in Dallas. Eager to start his own business he left the company in 1961 to found his first store.

Dr. Pearle is survived by three of his four children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his memory to the OneSight Research Foundation to benefit the Dr. Stanley Pearle Scholarship Fund. Electronic donations can be facilitated by visiting app.etapestry.com/hosted/OneSight/OnlineDonation.html ■