Dr. Ira Long’s kindness recalled

Chattanooga lost a great citizen and ophthalmologist with the recent death of Dr. Ira M. Long.

As a former 20-year employee, I never heard Dr. Long raise his voice to anyone. Our office was in the Interstate Life Insurance building and he would take the complete office staff to lunch at the Read House. All of us rode downtown in his antique Cadillac. The office later moved to the Erlanger hospital office building. When we had to work late, Dr. Long would walk each of us to our vehicles.

Lots of times after the office moved to the Eastgate area and became Chattanooga Eye Institute, Dr. Long would join some of us girls for lunch at Longhorn. He always ordered ice coffee.

If I had a medical question or problem, Dr. Long always had great advice. He always called when he got my birthday card.

Dr. Long was my employer and my friend. I will miss him very much. Nadine Carden Flintstone, Ga.