Victor Connors, OD.
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MIDDLETON, Wis.— Victor Connors, OD, a prominent optometrist well known for his active involvement in advancing the scope of the profession as well as taking on visible roles in local community, state and national associations and his work internationally for optometry, passed away suddenly earlier this week. He was 68.

A native of Wonewoc, Wis. and a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry, Connors started his optometric practice, Isthmus Eye Care, in Middleton in 1971. He was an active community leader in Middleton, having served many municipal commissions and community organizations.

Connors served as president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association and was Wisconsin Optometrist of the Year in 1990. He was instrumental in optometrists gaining the privilege to prescribe medication for the treatment of eye diseases in Wisconsin and other states. He served on the American Optometric Association's (AOA) board of trustees for many years, and in 2003 was elected president of the AOA.

Connors served as president of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) helping 78 member organizations across the world represent over 250,000 optometrists. WCO serves to assure and foster the vision and eye wellness of all citizens of the world, and to promote the profession of optometry. He was instrumental in 2005 in getting Optometry Giving Sight up and running in the U.S., and most recently serviced as president of the World Optometry Foundation.

Noted Clive Miller, CEO, Optometry Giving Sight, “Vic was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of Optometry Giving Sight in the USA, serving as both chair and CEO for many years. He also served on our Global Board from 2006-12. Vic was a born leader and as a former president of the AOA, he was also instrumental, along with the late Professor Brien Holden, in creating our strong and defining partnership with Vision Source.

“His presidency of the World Council of Optometry gave him a passion and commitment for promoting the development of optometry around the world and this proved invaluable as we prioritized funding for the first Schools of Optometry in Malawi and Mozambique, in partnership with Brien Holden Vision Institute.

“Even in retirement,” Miller added, “Vic continued to champion support for Optometry Giving Sight, and over the past few years we have been delighted to get to know and work with other members of the family including his son, Colin. I last saw Vic in San Antonio at this year’s Vision Source Exchange. He was excited to be taking up a new role as president of the World Optometry Foundation and was keen to start planning how we could work together again. We will all greatly miss Vic and his towering presence, great passion for life and incredible commitment to ensuring that all people in the world have the opportunity to access affordable vision care delivered by a degree trained optometrist.”

Scott Jens, OD, FAAO, a colleague and former business partner, now CEO of Rev360, said, “ The world has lost one of its most incredibly thoughtful, committed optometrists, Dr. Victor Connors. Those who knew Vic are terribly saddened by the loss of a friend who knew how to blend fun and hard work.

“More importantly, he was the profession’s consummate volunteer. And to me, he was my clinic business partner for 20 years. To Vic's family, your optometry family passes along its deepest condolences. Vic was a tremendous brother, husband, father and grandfather.

“Vic started a solo eyecare practice in Middleton, on the edge of the state’s capitol city, Madison. In 1996, Vic and I joined another solo practitioner in Middleton, Dr. Peter Bergenske, in creating Isthmus Eye Care. When we built a new clinic facility in 2003, Vic encouraged me to avoid purchasing an existing PMS/EHR system and urged me to ‘build it yourself.’ In the break room of our clinic, Jim Schneider and John Warren and I took Vic’s advice and in 2006 launched the business plan for RevolutionEHR.

“Vic was always a strong supporter of RevolutionEHR, even though working on the software business ultimately led me to leave our practice in December 2015. The entire RevolutionEHR family is infinitely appreciative of Vic’s never-ending support and guidance toward building the most useful software we could. And the Isthmus Eye Care family is in the capable hands of Vic's son, Colin Connors, Callie Maursetter, Tim Wilson, and Rich Jun,” Jens said.

Visitation will be held at Gunderson Funeral Home in Middleton from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, and a service will be held on Saturday from 10 to 11:00 a.m.