NORFOLK – Dr. Bernard Daniel Jason passed away on June 15, 2023, with loved ones by his side.
Known as “Danny,” he was born on December 23, 1931, in Norfolk to the late Jack Jason and Mollie Tisch Jason and is preceded in death by his loving wife of 56 years, Sylvia Rose Lazarus Jason, his daughter Paula Jason Carl, and brother Stanley Jason.
Danny is survived by his son, Joel David Jason and his wife Carol of Virginia Beach and his daughter, Marcy Mostofsky and her husband Michael of Norfolk. He treasured his eight grandchildren Adam (Marina), Aaron, and Josh Jason, Scott Flax (Erika), Lauren Flax Kocen (Jordan), and Katherine Flax Brody (Louis), and Ilana Peck and Devorah Peck Zinn (Rueven), and his six great grandchildren Emily and Jack Jason, Sydney and Peyton Flax, Penina and Everlee Kocen, Preston Brody, and Noam Zinn. Danny is also survived by his sister Deanna Jason Kogut of Houston, Texas.
Danny was a 1950 graduate of Norfolk’s Maury High School. From there he attended William and Mary Extension in Norfolk before his graduation from Southern College of Optometry in 1955. That year, he and Sylvia Rose were married and moved to St. Louis after enlisting in the Army, serving at St. Louis Medical Center until 1957. His Bruton, Alabama raised wife, Sylvia Rose, felt Norfolk was too big a city, so they moved to Danville, Va., where he opened Family Eye Care Center and raised their three children.
Among his accomplishments and hobbies, Danny served as vice president and was a board member at Temple Beth Shalom in Danville. He was also president of Danville Lions Club. Danny spent weekends playing golf with his buddies at Tuscarora Country Club, Pittsylvania County. 44 years later, Danny retired, selling his Danville practice to move to Norfolk to be closer to Joel, Paula, and Marcy. After many trips to Norfolk and Richmond to visit grandchildren, Sylvia Rose was accustomed to the thriving metropolis of the big city.
Danny continued contract work for several years at local optometry practices. Danny’s kind and gentle spirit served as a patriarchal guide to his greatest joys. . . his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is so loved and will be missed by so many.
A graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
The family requests donations may be made to B’nai Israel Congregation, Norfolk, or Temple Emanuel Synagogue, Virginia Beach. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.hdoliver.com.