Louis Reynolds Salmon, 92, of Vero Beach, Florida, died peacefully at home Dec. 18, 2019. Born in Brooklyn, New York March 12, 1927, Louis was the son of the late Louis J.A. and Aida (Reynolds) Salmon. Louis was a graduate of Brooklyn Preparatory High School and, following his honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corp at the conclusion of World War II, he received his A.B. degree from Columbia College, New York City. He earned a doctorate from the Downstate Division of the State University of New York, formerly the Long Island College of Medicine, where both his father and grandfather also received their medical degrees.
It was during his residency in ophthalmology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan where he met his bride to be, Marguerite (Peggy) Schmittling, who worked as an operating room nurse. In 1956 they married and later settled in Monmouth County, living in Middletown, Rumson and Fair Haven. They chose to be close to the Belmar shore where Louis had spent his summer months as a child.
In 1960, Dr. Salmon opened his ophthalmology practice in Middletown. He was a member of the American Medical Association, diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Department Chief of Ophthalmology at Riverview Hospital, Red Bank. Following his retirement in 1994, he and Peggy divided their time between New Jersey and Florida.
Louis was most happy on the ocean. He traveled the world surfing and sailing as well as fishing the local waters of New Jersey. He was an early member of the Kiernan Surfing Association where he was most fondly known as “Doc.” He was an active member for more than 45 years of Rumson Country Club and Seabright Beach Club and, since 1994, Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club in Vero Beach, Florida.
Louis will be remembered as a kind and patient man with a warm sense of humor who loved his family. He was predeceased by his wife Marguerite M., son William C. and brother Pierre J. Salmon. Surviving are his son Raymond and his wife Dagmar of Hailey, Idaho; his son Robert and his wife Elizabeth of Mill Valley, California; his daughter Kathryn Carter and her husband J. Howard of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; his daughter Janet Wilson and her husband James of Fair Haven; his nine grandchildren, Leah, Brianna, Connor, Brian, Victoria, Nick, Louis, Joseph and Benjamin; and his two great-granddaughters, Olivia and Piper.
The family is thankful to the staff at Harbor Chase of Vero Beach for their wonderful care of Louis during his last years and more recently for the aid of Caring Hands Home Health and VNA Hospice. A private Mass and interment will be held by the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations in his memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. An online guestbook is available at strunkfuneralhome.com.
