Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Bill Takeshita
On Sunday, June 11th, 2023 Dr. Bill's colleagues, patients and friends gathered at Veteran's Memorial Park in Culver City to share memories and tributes to his life and legacy. Dr. Bill Takeshita was a Pediatric Low Vision pioneer, advocate, mentor, teacher and beloved friend and colleague. Dr. Bill's career started at the Center for the Partially Sighted (CPS) which closed in 2017 and many former CPS staff were reunited to remember his important work, his big smile and great sense of humor.
Eye doctors who worked with Dr. Bill spoke about his commitment to practice Low Vision Optometry for the youngest patients, starting in infancy. Dr. Bill combined his training in Visual Developmental and Low Vision to spread awareness about the potential of children, including those with multiple disabilities, to maximize their remaining sight. Some of those children, now adults, spoke about his incredible compassion, encouragement and message of hope that gave them the self-confidence to reach high and achieve their goals. Professionals in the low vision community shared that Dr. Bill's ability to explain a child's visual diagnosis and the accommodations needed, influenced and elevated their work with children and families. Watch a heartfelt tribute given by Keith Christian, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, below who helped Dr. Bill with his adjustment to vision loss as a friend who is also legally blind.
Partners for Pediatric Vision brought Dr. Bill onboard as our Consulting Optometrist and Parent Educator in 2017 and he continued to provide his extensive knowledge, wisdom and firsthand experience with visual impairment with hundreds of families receiving our services. We have established the Dr. Bill Hope in Our Hearts fund in his memory to provide financial help to families who cannot afford the cost of eye exams or glasses. To contribute to the Dr. Bill Hope in Our Hearts fund please visit our donate page and include Dr. Bill fund with your donation.
We created this tribute page for Dr. Bill where you can share your tributes and stories. You can also submit any pictures/videos you'd like to share to the tribute page by emailing us at partnersforpediatricvision@gmail.com.
Dr. Bill's legacy is alive through the enormous number of children and families he treated, counseled and inspired and his lasting influence on the field of pediatric vision.
Thank you for joining with all of us in celebrating the life of Dr. Bill.
Tori, Diane, Janice, Mackenzie, Rosanna, and Helen
Partners for Pediatric Vision
Dr. Gary Asano, Dr. Tina MacDonald, Dr. Joyce Wei, Tori Schladen, Mike Goldberg, Rosanna Sandoval, Diane Christian, Dr. Francesca Escobar and Janice Goldhaber all worked alongside Dr. Bill
Sonia Tempia, Pam Thompson, Maral Abrijian and Tori Schladen
Esther, former patient of Dr. Bill's shared how he changed her life and the life of her parents
Former colleagues from the Center for the Partially Sighted and Ellen Eifert and Keith Christian, Teachers of the Visually Impaired
Keith Christian shares how his friendship with Dr. Bill deepened after Dr. Bill lost his sight
