For Alton W. Lamont, Jr., OD ’55, choosing NECO was a decision that shaped a lifetime. He discovered his interest in optometry while attending Colby College and often described enrolling at NECO as one of the best decisions he ever made. The College gave him the foundation to build a meaningful career—and to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

After graduation, Dr. Lamont founded his own practice, earning his patients’ trust through personal relationships and a deep commitment to exceptional eye care. He also saw opportunities to reach people whose needs too often went unmet. As Director of Eye Care for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections and founder of an eye clinic at the Boston Chinese Health Community Center, he brought his expertise to communities with limited access to care.

Sharing that expertise became another defining part of his life. Dr. Lamont partnered with Cambridge Eye Doctors to train new optometrists and joined efforts to train doctors in developing countries. At NECO, he served as an Instructor in Clinical Services, a trustee, and president of the College’s alumni association. Across these roles, he helped prepare others to carry the profession forward.

Together, Dr. Lamont and his wife, Joan, envisioned a way to extend that commitment beyond their lifetimes.

In 2005, working with their attorney and financial advisors, the Lamonts established a charitable remainder trust. It allowed them to provide for their lifetime income while planning meaningful gifts to organizations that had shaped their lives. NECO was at the top of their short list.

Their decision also brought them into NECO’s Foster Namias Legacy Society, a community of supporters who include the College in their estate plans. At the time, Dr. Lamont explained what the gift meant to them:

“My wife Joan and I decided to become members to help assure the future of the profession and give back to a school that has meant so much to us. We had the privilege of knowing Professor Namias, and we are proud now to leave a legacy that will assist future optometrists and their patients.”

Following Joan’s passing in 2023 and Dr. Lamont’s passing in 2025, NECO received the Lamonts’ transformational gift, fulfilling a vision they had set in motion 20 years earlier.

Their generosity carries forward the values that guided Dr. Lamont’s career: compassionate care, service to others, and a belief in the next generation. We are deeply grateful for the Lamonts’ foresight and trust. Through the students who learn at NECO and the patients those graduates will serve, their influence will continue for decades to come.