By Susanne Beck
Generations of bespectacled Upper West Siders came to know and love Lloyd Charles Chautin – better known as “The Eye Man” – before he retired in 2022 after forty-plus years of overseeing operations at his store of the same name on Broadway at W. 81st Street. About his nickname, he once joked to the West Side Rag: “I’ve gone from being the blind man [he once was a window-shade salesman] to The Eye Man.”
Family members tell the Rag that Chautin’s retirement was short. He passed away on Sunday, December 18th, at home in Long Island. He was 73 years old.
Chautin’s son, Alex, told the Rag that his father was born in the Bronx in October 1949, to European immigrants, Ruth and Nathan Chautin. He opened The Eye Man Ltd. in 1976. He earned a degree in Opthalmic Dressing from the City University of New York in 1979.
Chautin prided himself on top-notch customer service whether the customer was a regular neighborhood shopper or one of the many celebrities he served – among them John Kennedy, Jr. (“always very polite”), Howard Stern, Al Franken, and David Lee Roth (“I had no idea who he was, but I knew his father was an opthalmologist”). He cherished the many friendships that grew out of his work as well as the lifelong connections he maintained with classmates and acquaintances throughout the years.
Chautin sold the business before The Eye Man moved to its current location at 2262 Broadway (across the way from the original site at W. 81st Street).
Chautin was predeceased by the love of his life of 46 years, Michele, who passed in July. He is survived by his two children, Jessikah and Alex, his twin grandchildren, Gavin and Finn, and his older brother, Jerry. A memorial service will be held for Lloyd on January 22nd.
Thank you for this lovely tribute.
We loved Lloyd. Even when he promised to give our kids a puppy and an espresso!
Oh I am sorry to hear this. His shop has been terrific, and made my kid’s life with glasses so much less troublesome. My son was not happy about having to wear glasses, but The Eye Man made him feel good about it by the way they treated him. I am not sure whether we met Mr. Chautin himself, but we surely benefitted from his work. My condolences to his family and friends.
I loved and appreciated my brother Lloyd. He was a people person for his family, friends and customers. He will be missed.
With love and affection,
Your brother Jerry
All of your comments about my brother Lloyd are bringing tears to my eyes. Thank you!
His grateful brother Jerry
score.org/mentors/jerry-chautin
My sympathies go out to you and your family. Your brother was a legend on the UWS!
I became a customer at the Eye Man in the early 80’s. In the late 80’s when I became co-editor of my synagogue’s monthly bulletin (really a booklet with numerous articles around a central theme), I asked Lloyd he would place an ad in the first issue of the Jewish New Year. Not only did he pay for an ad, he said he would place an ad in every monthly issue for a year. And he did. And I promised him I would be his customer forever. And I was and remain so. We will all miss this wonderful man.
HE AND HIS STORE WERE A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE UWS. THANK YOU FOR THIS LOVELY TRIBUTE AND STORY. SO SORRY HIS RETIREMENT WAS SHORT.
Yes indeed. Lloyd was a wonderful “fixture” in this hood. He loved what he did and was meticulous in his care of his customers. He was the Eye Man. No drama, always affable and welcoming.
The Eye Man left when Loyd did. Nothing like what is was.
Thank you , Lloyd. You are remembered every time i walk by your namesake.
Agreed!
Lloyd was a wonderful , kind man. It was hard enough dealing w twins wearing glasses at a young age and Lloyd was patient, playful and tough when he needed to be ! His team was amazing and everyone made the experience better. I’m very sad to hear of his passing. May he rest in peace
Aww, goodbye Lloyd. He was a very nice (albeit a bit tough), friendly man. I liked how direct he could be. He’ll be missed in the neighborhood. ❤️
The professionalism and expertise at The Eye Man were always amazing, and were combined with patience and good sense as they helped customers and the perfect glasses. Lloyd set the tone for his terrific team, who continue without him. I am sorry to hear of his death, as we often had interesting conversations–I believe his brother is a rabbi (?) . My condolences to his family and employees.
Hiya Liz,
The Rabbi is his late wife’s brother-in-law. Michele passed away in June 2002. They were married for 47 years and were deeply in love all that time. I don’t doubt that her passing contributed to Lloyd leaving us soon afterwords.
So sad.
Lloyd’s Brother Jerry
Hi! Correction. My mom, Lloyds wife died in July of 2022, not 2002!
…..thank you Jess for correcting the dates for dear Michele. Julie usually edits my writing because I’ve always had reading, writing and spelling challenges. According to Lloyd, Dyslexia is generic in our family and it fits me well. (-:
What a kind soul…and generous in spirt as well. I’m very sad today to learn of his passing. Still find myself looking in the window to say hello..please let us know about the memorial service. With sympathy, Gail
I am a long-time customer of the Eye Man and am so sad that Lloyd died. That’s much too young to go. He was not only a good neighbor but he let me create two displays for his windows and had some of my books on his table for his customers to enjoy.
GL
Lloyd was the BEST!
He helped both my sons select the perfect eyeglasses at young ages,, (overcoming their fear of being made fun of) and then a few years after, he and his wonderful team taught them how to put in contact lenses.
He also helped my dad select new eyeglasses, that made him look like Martin Scorcese!
Lloyd always had that twinkle in his eye, and we always looked forward to visiting The Eye Man for all kinds of needs, including the adorable eye docs he hired.
I’m so sad to learn of his passing.
Condolences to his family.
May Lloyd rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.
A mensch. Such caring and professional service. His employees were also lovely. They all took the time to find frames that you felt good about and chatted about what was going in their lives. I have been a customer since the store opened. My condolences and good wishes to his family. May his memory be a blessing.
May Dr Chautin rest in peace. He ran a first rate business with excellent care. Very professional. The Eye Man now is not at all what it was under Dr Chautin. I waited for weeks to get a prescription for an eye drop and in the end went some where else where they responsded immediately.
I met Lloyd in the Bronx over 50 years ago. We lost touch for many years and then reconnected. I would have lunch with him when I came to visit NYC from Colorado. Always had many laughs. He loved his shop, his customers and the UWS.
Lloyd was absolutely heartbroken and devastated when his wife Michelle passed this year; he was struggling with his own health issues and I could hear the change in his voice after the death of his beloved wife.
I spoke with him just a week before Thanksgiving, glad I got to tell him that I appreciated our friendship.
Resided on W81 until 3 yrs ago, always ducked in for an adjustment and/or a chit chat – so sorry to learn this news , would definitely like to attend memorial service, please advise …
Stuart, this is Lloyd’s son, you can email me at archautin@gmail.com. I can give you some information.
Lloyd was an amazing employer, mentor and dear friend. I will miss our morning coffee together and Beatles playlist.
Uncle Lloyd will be missed. I will miss talking “music” and guitars. His love of the instrument cannot be put in words. I will always remember our times in Lake George.
Sarasota was our winter home, not our summer home as I misspoke
Thank you cousin Ryan. Our Lloyd, my brother was a family man, business man and a friend to everyone who knew him. We will all miss him.
Cousin Jerry Chautin
PS. I understand that you moved to Sarasota — a wonderful town. It was our summer home for about 15 years. Enjoy!
Lloyd Chautin will always be the one and only Eye Man. The best boss, mentor and someone I loved like my own father. I am so grateful to have known him, to have worked for him, and to have experienced his kindness, gentleness, selflessness. It is a great honor to have witnessed the love he had for his wife, family and his cherished business all these years. Lloyd poured his heart and soul into the things that carry true meaning in life. May his namesake forever be legendary like the person he was.
Everyone’s sharing about Lloyd resonates with me as well. What I choose to recall the most is that his youthful spirit & energy is what he wanted most for people to see in him in the months after Michele died. Lloyd possessed so much inner wisdom. He knew to take it one day at a time; as much as possible on his terms. What inspired me the most was that he acknowledged openly all that was fragile about his today & uncertain about his tomorrow, while still standing tall! I will try to lean on this memory when feeling similarly in the future. My only regret in our decades of friendship is that I never knew until this year that Lloyd loved White Castle as much as I do! While we never shared their sliders, one night on his recommendation, we each separately ate Wendy’s chili & shared our reviews on a call. The lovely Zabars needn’t worry, but…
Impeccable service that will be hard to beat, and such a beloved part of UWS life. A chapter has closed. Condolences to the family and rest in peace.
No more Lloyd, no more Eye Man,no more guitar playing in the store with the customer while picking a new pair of glasses, I miss those days. A chapter of UWS history has ended….I can still hear the Beatles playing In the background.