3-Term F.C. Chamber Chief Jim Elkin Dies

James S. Elkin, 67, who served in an unprecedented three terms as board chairman of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce from 2001 through 2003, died suddenly after a short illness Tuesday. Shortly before his death, he had been admitted to the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.

News of Elkin's death sent a shock wave through the Falls Church business community. His reputation as a heart-warming and effective businessman and Chamber of Commerce leader was based on many friendships he developed with fellow Falls Church business leaders and countless customers of his Point of View Eyewear business that came to Falls Church in the mid-1990s.

Among Elkin's close friends was Falls Church physician Dr. Barry Byer, who hailed his "kind demeanor" and "tireless, wonderful leadership" as a member of the medical brigade led by Byer to Honduras last year.

Byer was present with Elkin's wife, Cindy, when Elkin was admitted to the hospital Monday night and Elkin died in the early hours Tuesday. Elkin had begun treatment for a serious illness only the week before.

A native of Arlington, he graduated from Washington-Lee High School and owned the eyewear department concession of a national department store chain before, in the late 1960s, opening his own business, Centre Opticians located in the greater Falls Church area. It later became Point of View Eyewear and moved to its current location on West Broad Street in the City of Falls Church in 1997. At that time he became active in the Chamber of Commerce.

With his service from 2001 to 2003, he became the first person ever to serve three one-year terms as president or chairman of the board of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, and received the Chamber's vaunted Pillar of the Community award.

Elkin and his wife Cindy continued to work at the Point of View store selling the business to friend and business partner William Mueller in 2003.

Last October, the Elkins traveled with the Virginia Hospital Center's Honduran Medical Brigade to La Ceiba, Honduras, where he led a 10-member eye care team. The team took over 2,600 pairs of recycled eyeglasses provided by the Northern Virginia Lions Club Eyeglass Recycling Center, located in Falls Church and other medical assistance from Falls Church's Cross Link, International.

According to Dr. Byer, who is the director of the VHC's Medical Brigade, Elkin became involved when he learned of the project from some of his eyewear store customers, including Byer, himself. He helped train volunteers at first, but last October he and Cindy decided to make the trip to Honduras, themselves. Until the onset of his illness, Elkin had been planning to go again this fall.

"He told me he'd never worked as hard in his entire life as he did when he was in Honduras last year, but that he was eager to do it again," Byer said. "He had such a heart for the people, and especially for the children. For many, even adults, whom he helped receive eyeglasses, it was the first time they'd ever had them and they were ecstatic with the results. He was a tireless, wonderful leader with a kind demeanor throughout."

A licensed optician by the Commonwealth of Virginia certified by the American Board of Opticianry, he served on the board of directors of the Opticians Association of American and the National Academy of Opticianry. He was chairman of the Guild of Prescription Opticians of American and president of the Guild of Prescription Opticians of Washington, D.C.

The beloved husband of Cindy Elkin and father of Haley Elkin, he is survived by four children from a previous marriage — Katherine Thalmann, Valerie Shafer, James Elkin Jr. and Clyde Elkin — and 11 grandchildren.

A viewing will be held at the Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad St., Thursday, Feb. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be held at the St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9225 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, with internment at the Chestnut Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be made to the Virginia Hospital Center's Honduran Medical Brigade, c/o the VHC Medical Brigade Staff Office, Virginia Hospital Center, 1701 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington, VA 22205.