Darryl Meister, ABOM.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.—Darryl Meister, ABOM, technical marketing manager for Carl Zeiss Vision, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 20, 2014. He was 42 years old. Well regarded by many in the optical community for his expertise of optics as well as for his friendly personality and willingness to share his knowledge, Meister has been an active member of the optical industry since 1990 and was one of the youngest opticians ever to earn the ABO’s Master certification. He joined Zeiss in 1996 in the technical services department, eventually becoming technical marketing manager.

An accomplished technician and educator, Meister contributed to many important industry initiatives, including The Vision Council’s Lens Description Standard and ANSI’s Z80.1 standards. He held multiple patents on ophthalmic lens designs and operated the online optical continuing education website, OptiCampus.com. Author of books and numerous articles about optics, his workbook, “Introduction to Ophthalmic Optics,” written with James Sheedy, OD, PhD, is currently in use at many schools of optometry and opticianry.

Meister was a former board member of the Opticians Association of Missouri and recipient of the National Federation of Opticianry School’s “Advancing Opticianry Education” award. Largely self-educated in the field of optics, he holds a degree in Mathematics & Computer Science, a Refractometry certification from the Opticians Association of America, and a Master in Ophthalmic Optics certification from the American Board of Optometry.

“Darryl was one of our global experts in eyeglass lens optics. His selfless contributions to industry forums, committees, education and product development are too numerous to recount,” said Uli Krauss, chairman and CEO of Carl Zeiss Vision. “His passing leaves a great gap in our company, our industry, and our hearts.”

Meister is survived by his children, Korey and Samantha; his sister and brothers, Monica Netter, Chris Meister, and Derrick Meister; his father, Darryl E. Meister, and by countless colleagues and friends in the industry that meant so much to him. Carl Zeiss Vision is setting up a fund through gofundme.com to go toward helping his children finish their college education. A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 26, at 11:00 am, St. Peter’s Church in Jefferson City, Mo.