Leonard Flom – an internationally known ophthalmologist, medical pioneer and inductee in the National Inventors Hall of Fame – died on Tuesday at Norwalk Hospital.  He was 94 

The son of Polish immigrants Murray and Pauline Flom of Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Flom entered New York University at the age of 16 and went on to receive a medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine where he studied ophthalmology and was certified as an ophthalmic surgeon.  He then became a first lieutenant in the United States Army Medical Corps and was stationed in Trieste, Italy during the Korean war conflict.

Following his service, Dr. Flom founded a private medical practice and surgical center in Fairfield, Connecticut and served the Fairfield County community for nearly 50 years.  Dr. Flom, along with academic colleague Dr. Aaron Safir, conceptualized and ultimately patented their idea for an iris identification system and co-founded IriScan. Today, this biometric is considered to be one of the most accurate in the field of biometric identification.  He taught and worked at a number of New York and Connecticut universities and hospitals and remained a member of the faculty of the NYU School of Medicine after retiring from practice.  Dr. Flom served on the Ethics Committee of the Connecticut Medical Examining Board, was actively engaged in the activities of the Y’s Men of Westport-Weston and was a regularly featured guest speaker at Camp Invention.  His passions included politics, photography, humor, and faith.

Dr. Flom is survived by his wife of 74 years Marilyn Flom, his children Cherie Quain, Jonathan Flom, Sara Goldstein and Rachel Chason, his 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He will be laid to rest at Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Flushing, New York. 

Donations in his memory may be made to:

Friends of Sheba Medical Center Tel HaShomer Guild
https://www.israelgives.org//amuta/580018885

Congregation Beth El
https://bethelfairfield.org/