Mario Cirio woke up one morning in 1995 to suddenly find himself without vision in his left eye. Doctors diagnosed him as having a retinal vein occlusion. Since his sight was still good in his right eye, he managed to adapt and continued practicing pharmacy. After all, he was only 75 -- and definitely not ready for retirement.

Mario started his pharmacy career as a teenager sweeping floors and stocking shelves in a neighborhood drugstore. He explained, “It was the depression, and times were tough. Most of the pharmacists from my generation got their start working for the corner druggist.” Mario credits his boss, Joe Pons, owner of Delmar & Taylor Drug, for pushing him into pharmacy. “Every week Mr. Pons would hold out part of my pay just to make sure I had enough for tuition. Back in those days tuition was $100 a semester and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s registrar, Miss Bode, let us pay by the week!” After graduation in 1941, Mario spent the first few years of his career as an Army pharmacist. After the war, he and his boss’s son, Charles, purchased Delmar & Taylor Drug. Customers trusted Mario’s advice and came to him with their aches and pains often before even seeing their doctor.

In 2006, after 65 years in pharmacy, Mario retired. Alzheimer’s was taking its toll on his wife, Ruth, and he needed to be home with her. Two years later, Mario lost the sight in his right eye. Diagnosed again with retinal vein occlusion, Mario is legally blind today. Last fall, when he learned about Minds Eye, he quickly became a fan of the morning news. It was good to keep up with the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the live readings reminded him of growing up with radio shows. Mario also loves listening to the Sports Scene on Saturdays.

Mario’s vision loss created feelings of loneliness and isolation. For years he had been surrounded by people. There was always a customer with a question or need. When he lost his vision, a number of friends quit including him in their plans. He began to feel cut off from the world. Today Mario’s home is filled with the lively voices of Minds Eye volunteers. They’ve become new friends. For this spry, mentally alert and physically fit 90-year-old, Minds Eye has added a new
dimension to life.

The Veteran’s Administration estimates that there are nearly one million veterans living with severe vision loss. While many of these men and women sustained battle injuries that caused their vision loss, many more served our country years ago, only to develop macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, or another disease later in life.

According to the National Health Interview Survey, about half of legally blind men over 65 who are also veterans and about 18% of all legally blind people are also veterans. Minds Eye’s program, Military Times, is geared towards these listeners, providing them with information
about the life they once lived.

Every week, retired Air Force Colonel, Jack Smith, brings listeners news about changes in health care benefits, retiree news, and current events related to the military from the Military Times, Air Force Times, Blinded Veterans Administration Newsletter and Scott Air Force Base Flyer. While he pays special attention to goings on at Scott Air Force Base, Smith keeps a national focus to
the show since his program is not only aired on Minds Eye, but also on several other radio reading services throughout the country.

mindsEye...bringing printed words to life