Dr. Burton Berk was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1930. After graduating high school, he attended Ohio State and earned a BS in Optometry in 1953. Almost a quarter of a century later, he received his OD in 1977! Dr. Berk loved his family. He married Margery Rocco in 1951, and they had four children: Deborah, Bruce, Michael, and Lawrence. He helped Deborah and Margery run a successful travel agency for many years. In turn, son Bruce helped him run his various optometric-related businesses for many years. Michael graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1983, practiced with Burton, and continues to operate the family practice today. Burton partnered with Lawrence on business investing practices.
Dr. Berk was a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry; a member of the National Eye Research Foundation, the American Optometric Association, the Ohio Optometric Association, the Ohio Vision Service Plan, Vision League Ohio, the International Orthokeratology Association, Optometric Extension Foundation, Inc., the Better Vision Institute, Phi Sigma Delta, and Whitehall Lions Club; and a lifetime member of Ohio State’s President’s Club.
When he passed away in 2012, he had 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Burton loved the field of optometry. Besides the above achievements, he was always involved in local, state, and national meetings. He believed in his profession and worked hard to provide the best care he could to his patients while striving to improve the profession he loved. He did many research projects on new contact lens materials and solutions. He was on the forefront of orthokeratology, locally and nationally. He opened numerous satellite offices where new graduates could get their feet on the ground in private practice.
Dr. Berk also loved the institution that gave him his education, The Ohio State University. He was in charge of the Class of 1953 scholarship award. He taught as an instructor in the college. He also had a passion for Ohio State athletics, going to every home football game for more than 50 years!