Dr. J. Alphonso Dandy Founder & CEO
J. Alphonso Dandy was born May 6, 1941 in Lake City, Florida. He is the oldest of six children. He was educated in the public schools graduating from high school in Lake City, Florida. He graduated from Bethune-Cookman College (now University) in 1962 with a B.S. degree in biology. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served for six years as a cryptographic operator. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force, he moved to Miami, Florida and was employed by the University Of Miami Medical School as a lab technician in birth defect research. After a year, he enrolled at Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. He graduated from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1972 with a Doctor of Optometry degree.
Dr. Dandy moved to Savannah where he practiced Optometry. He served as a consultant and contact lens investigator for Johnson and Johnson. In 1997 he was featured in Eyecare Business magazine as having one of the most successful Black-owned optical businesses in America. After 32 years of practice, he retired in 2004. He now holds the position of administrator at Antioch Medical Associates, Southside and Midtown (a podiatry practice specializing in diabetic foot care). He also served as Chairman of the Board of Savannah Association for the Blind, Inc. as well as Interim Executive Director. In 2011 he was given the honor of having the SAB Board Room named after him. Dr. Dandy is a member of Thankful Missionary Baptist Church where he was ordained as a deacon. He is a Sunday school teacher, and former chairman of Trustees Ministry. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP.
He is married to Dr. Evelyn Dandy, Ph.D., retired professor of Professor of Education and former Dean of the College of Education, Armstrong State University. They have three children: one daughter–Ms. Ronlyn Dandy, Instructional Technology Specialist for the Prince Georges County School District and one of the Television Production Directors for Spirit of Faith Christian Life Center; and twin sons—Dr. Russell Dandy, owner of Chatham Eye Associates in Savannah and East Georgia Regional Eye Center in Statesboro, and a Glaucoma Surgeon who is married to Dr. Zorana Sifford Dandy, Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Dr. Ronald Dandy, owner of Chatham Eye Associates in Savannah and East Georgia Regional Eye Center in Statesboro and Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon, and married to Dr. Regina Buckley Dandy, Family Practitioner and physician for SouthCoast in Richmond Hill, GA. They have four grand children—three boys and one girl—Russell Jr., Ronald Jr., James Alphonso, and Zia and one great grandson: Brayden.
