Fond Memories from PCO’s Oldest Living Alumna: Dr. Dorothy Lippman

It’s been 83 years since Dorothy (Nemtzow) Lippman, OD ‘36 attended the then Pennsylvania State College of Optometry (which later became Pennsylvania College of Optometry) but that doesn’t mean she can’t clearly recall some of her best or her favorite memories of her time at the College.

With the help of her daughter Susan, Dr. Lippman compiled a list of her favorite memories from her time as a student:

• She lived in Dr. Albert Fitch’s, PCO’s founder, home with other women who attended the College with her.
• She was one of very few women in her class.
• Her daily routine consisted of being picked up by bus in the morning after breakfast and driven to campus. When classes were over, they took the bus home to Dr. Fitch’s house in time for dinner.
• The class sizes were small which made it easy to ask questions when needed.
• The professors were extremely serious, but always kind.
• She liked her classmates – they were sometimes funny, but always hard working.
• Her Board of Examiners in Optometry Certificate referenced “his” and “him” and did not distinguish men from women.
• She was able to buy all of her necessary supplies and equipment through the school. 

Despite finding it difficult to transition from school and being a student into running her own practice, Dr. Lippman successfully ran a practice for just over 15 years. Her patients called her Dr. Dorothy, a nickname of sorts that she was given due to her small stature, and her home state Rhode Island, the smallest state. She retired from optometry in order to assist her husband, Abe Lippman, with his business and also to care for their twin daughters.

Dr. Lippman kicked off a family trend of optometrists as her younger brother, David Nemtzow, OD, and two cousins followed in her footsteps.

Now residing in Warwick, R.I., Dr. Lippman is visited by her daughters and son-in laws; grandchildren and their spouses; and 12 great grandchildren often. Today, January 8, marks her 104th birthday.

She was delighted to contribute her memories of her time at PCO as part of the centennial collection.