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Dear FFB Central Virginia Chapter Members,
With deep sadness, I want to let you know of the passing of John Trageser on December 13, 2010. John served as Chapter President of our Foundation Fighting Blindness Central Virginia Chapter for 31 years and was the longest-serving Chapter President of all 50 chapters nationally.
John and his wife Novella, who like me is affected with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), first heard of the Foundation Fighting Blindness in a newspaper article about two students at VCU, Brian Hubbard and Ann Scott, trying to start a local chapter. They called and, shortly after, went to the first official chapter meeting in March 1975 held in Richmond. My wife Irene and I read the same article and we met John and Novella at that meeting and we became very close friends. Carroll Hudson, Carolyn Matthews, Linwood & Ellen Fleming among others have been great friends and supporters of the chapter for decades as well.
John led the group to start events such as the Richmond VisionWalk and the Richmond Dining in the Dark among other great activities to raise funds for research. "It's always been about the next generation," John once said. "It's never been about us."
I have included a link below to John’s Memorial Page on the Foundation’s website where you can pay tribute to him by making a contribution in his name. FFB co-founder Gordon Gund is kindly matching your contribution in John’s honor. Should you have any questions, please contact Matt Musgrove by email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by phone at 410-423-0623
http://www.fightblindness.org/goto/john.trageser
I wish you a wonderful holiday season and please keep John, Novella and the entire Trageser family in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
George Dolan
Founding Member of the
FFB Central Virginia Chapter
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