Euclid founder George Glady passes away at 73

George E. Glady, 1949 - 2023

George Glady, a founder of Euclid Vision Corp., passed away recently in Sarasota, Florida. He was 73.

An industrial engineer and entrepreneur, Glady enjoyed a successful career as a contact lens designer and manufacturer dedicated to correcting vision. At the start of Glady’s 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 over many years and, by experimenting and collaborating with other experts, 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.

Today, 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 travelling both internationally and throughout the US. He was an avid woodworker, collected trains, and was passionate about bluegrass music, which he would sing and listen to. He enjoyed baseball and football and would choose the team nearest where he lived as his favorite at that time. Glady also enjoyed bowling and was a member of the Professional Bowlers Association and had a sanctioned 300 game.

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

In addition to his wife, 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 any of the following organizations:

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC.org) an international relief organization

GPLI (Gas Permeable Lens Institute (contact Beth@GPLI.info) a contact lens educational organization

Wayland Historical Society: info@waylandnuseum.org