NEW YORK—Gloria Nicola, a former senior editor of 20/20 magazine, passed away on July 19 at her home in Long Island, N.Y. She was 74 years old.

Nicola, who retired from the magazine in October, 2014 after 27 years, covered frames, sunwear and accessories. A keen observer of the eyewear fashion scene, she was well liked and highly respected by many in the optical industry, particularly the frame designers and frame company executives whom she wrote about with insight and appreciation.

Nicola’s work has included covering thousands of new products, viewing almost as many new eyewear and sunwear collections, securing products and accessories for the magazine’s fashion shoots, writing features and interviewing dozens of eyewear, accessory and fashion designers over the years. She represented 20/20 at innumerable U.S. and international trade shows.

Nicola joined Jobson initially as a frames editor for both 20/20 and its sister publication, Vision Monday, in 1987. About a year later, she focused all of her time on 20/20 and in 1990 was named senior editor. Nicola initially covered all new products coming into the market, from contact lenses to accessories, displays and lenses. Her role evolved to a focus on frames, sunwear and accessories and, in the early ’90s, she started to complement her coverage within the U.S. with trips to Mido and Silmo.

Nicola, who grew up in Rhinelander, Wis., received her B.A. in English and then her Master’s in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin She taught English in high school and then in a junior college for four years before moving east to N.J. She eventually moved into the book publishing arena, working for Random House and Ballentine Books for several years and then at publisher Ziff Davis for 12 years on its hotel and travel directories.

Nicola is survived by husband, Frank Nicola. No funeral service is planned.

Click here to read more about Nicola’s career and accomplishments.