Los Angeles
County
Biographies
ROBERT
LLOYD SEVERTSON, O. D.
One
of the basic concepts of the medical profession is that a doctor exists to help
his fellow man. Robert Lloyd Severtson,
O. D., is just such a doctor, an optometrist who likes people and derives
happiness from serving them.
A
slim tall man who wears glasses himself, Dr. Severtson has maintained his
office at 1042 East Main Street in Alhambra since 1952 at which time he took
over the practice of Dr. Giles Morton on the latter’s retirement. In relation to his general practice in
optometry, Dr. Severtson is a member of the Optometric Extension Program (a
post graduate study organization), and a member of the California Optometric
Society, as well as the American Optometric Association and the American
Optometric Foundation; he is also on the board of the Los Angeles College of
Optometry, and in 1961 served as vice-president of the San Gabriel Valley
Optometric Association of which he will be president in 1962. Dr. Severtson is also active, serving as
treasurer, in a non-profit state organization, the California Optometrist’s
Occupational Vision Services, and is affiliated with Omega Delta, an optometric
fraternity.
Born
in Conrad, Montana, on May 29, 1923, Robert Lloyd Severtson was one of the four
sons of Willa Rose Baker Severtson and Albert Lee Severtson, who still serves
as a county assessor in Montana. Another
of their four sons, Herbert, who makes contact lenses, lives in Baldwin
Park. Dr. Severtson’s grandmother and
grandfather, who came from Norway and Denmark, respectively, met on board ship
and were married upon their arrival in the United States.
After
receiving his elementary and high school education in Conrad, Montana, and
serving in the United States Navy for three years, Dr. Severtson enrolled at
the University of Southern California as a pre-optometry student. He graduated from the Los Angeles College of
Optometry, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Service in 1950 and
his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1951.
Robert
Lloyd Severtson and the former Miss Doris Sayre of Decatur, Illinois, were
married in the Methodist Church in Carson City, Nevada, on August 29,
1949. Mrs. Severtson was an English
teacher at South Pasadena High School from 1947 to 1960. They are the parents of two children—James
Sayre, 5-1/2, who attends Carver School in San Marino, and Cynthia Rae, 1-1/2
years of age. Both children were born on
the same date, December 15. The
Severtson’s are members of the Oneonta Congregational Church in South Pasadena
where Mrs. Severtson teaches Sunday School and Dr.
Severtson serves as an usher.
Dr.
Severtson is a past president of the Alhambra Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1955
and 1956, and in 1957 received its Distinguished Service Award. He is also a past president of the Sertoma Club of Alhambra and received the plaque for Sertomanean of the Year in 1955.
Deeply
interested in youth and community welfare, Dr. Severtson is one of the
organizers of the Alhambra Community Youth Employment Service, and now serves
as its treasurer. He was also a member
of the Alhambra Youth Coordinating Council and a past advisor to that
group. In addition, Dr. Severtson is on
the local boards of the Red Cross and of the United Fund.
Dr.
Severtson enjoys his children, golf, fishing, landscaping and gardening as
relaxation from his considerable professional and civic undertakings.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 688-689, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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BIOGRAPHIES