Local Optometrist Looks Ahead To Retirement

By Jan Howard

There is a point in time, Dr Sal F. Abriola said last week, when it’s “time to move on,” to do other things, and to take advantage of other opportunities.

Dr Abriola, an optometrist, is retiring soon from his practice at Village Eye Care, but it may not be total retirement. He plans to continue on a consulting basis for about a year.

“I may come in as I’m needed or for a consultation,” he said. “I’ve talked to Dr Young about seeing some patients or doing consulting. We’ll see how it goes.”

Dr Joseph Young will officially take over the practice on August 7.

Dr Abriola said he wants to have more time to enjoy his grandchildren and his hobbies, and do some traveling.

He and his wife, Olga, have two children, a daughter, Karen Lowe, who lives in Goshen, and a son, Darryl, who resides in Highland Park, N.J. They have three grandchildren, aged 8, 5, and one month.

Dr Abriola and Dr Young are sending out 3,800 letters to his almost 5,000 active patients, notifying them of the changes in the practice.

Dr Young has been in Newtown recently, Dr Abriola said. “He has done some exams and met some of the people. It’s been going fine. People seem to like him.”

Village Eye Care is located in Newtown Shopping Center on Queen Street near the Big Y, an area Dr Abriola refers to as a “great location.” The office meets all handicapped accessibility specifications, he added. His practice has been located in or near this location since he first came here to practice in 1960, when he rented an office in a house next to the shopping center. For a short time, from 1961-62, he rented a house on the corner of Queen Street and Glover Avenue. “We lived in part of it and used part for my office.” In 1964, he moved his practice into the shopping center above Borodenko’s Market and practiced there until 1995. After another short-term move, he moved to his current location in 1997.

Dr Abriola started his practice in Bridgeport in 1957 after graduating in 1956 from Illinois College in Chicago. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Bridgeport.

In 1959 following their marriage, he and Mrs Abriola decided they wanted to be in the country. He began his practice in Newtown in 1960, and they moved to Woodbury in 1964.

“Newtown is a beautiful town, and it’s a great location,” he said.

In addition to plans for travel and spending more time with his grandchildren, Dr Abriola enjoys woodworking, and is looking forward to having the time to make things and to do restoration work. He also loves sports, and plans to attend more games in retirement. He also likes to read.

He also wants to have more time for organic gardening, an activity he has enjoyed doing for about 40 years. Mrs Abriola has several large flower gardens, but his love is vegetable gardening.

“I have about a 40 foot by 80 foot garden, and blueberries and raspberries,” Dr Abriola said. He composts and uses only organic fertilizer and insecticides. He also cuts about two acres of lawn.

“I enjoy being outside,” he noted. 

He and Mrs Abriola plan to remain living in Woodbury. “We’ll do some traveling,” he said. “But we enjoy being home, reading, gardening, and seeing the kids.”

“I’ve enjoyed myself here,” Dr Abriola said of his practice in Newtown, “but I will have time now to enjoy my grandkids. They’re only small for a little while. I want to take advantage of that window of opportunity. You do your best while you can. I’ve served my time, and it’s time to move on.”

“The people in town have been terrific in supporting me all these years. I’ve had a close relationship with them,” he said. “Of course, I’ll miss them.”