Gerard Jay Hunter's Obituary
Dr. Gerard Jay Hunter passed away peacefully on December 9, 2025, at his home in Coweta, Oklahoma, at the age of 78.
Born in Auburn, New York, and raised in Franklinville, he distinguished himself early through academic excellence and broad involvement in music, athletics, and community life. He graduated as salutatorian of the Ten Broeck Free Academy Class of 1965.
Dr. Hunter earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Albany Medical College, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his ophthalmology residency at The George Washington University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., serving as chief resident, followed by fellowship training in oculoplastic surgery in Houston, Texas.
He practiced ophthalmology in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for four decades, specializing in oculoplastic surgery. A board-certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Hunter was widely respected for his expertise in complex reconstructive procedures and was the region's sole oculoplastic surgeon for many years. He was a founding member and owner of the Eye Surgery Center of Tulsa (ESCOT) and a co-founder of The Eye Institute.
Deeply committed to education, Dr. Hunter served as a professor at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University medical schools, teaching medical students and residents for more than 35 years. He was among the early pioneers in the clinical use of botulinum toxin (Botox) for the treatment of blepharospasm and was known for his generosity in teaching all who sought to learn.
Dr. Hunter also shared his skills internationally through Orbis Flying Eye Surgeons, providing surgical education in developing countries, particularly in India and China. Following retirement, he and his wife, Cindy, spent part of each year in Costa Rica.
He maintained a lifelong enthusiasm for fast, high-performance automobiles, emerging technologies, world cultures, and travel. He was an avid reader, a lover of music and classic films, enjoyed sailing on Grand Lake, and delighted in exploring international cuisine.
Dr. Hunter met his wife, Cindy, in the operating room; they were married on January 13, 2007. He was a devoted father to his daughter, Alicia, and lovingly embraced Cindy's daughters, Lara and Elise, as his own. He was a cherished grandfather to Harrison and Charlie Warner.
Dr. Hunter is survived by his wife, Cindy; daughters Alicia Warner, Lara Jenswold, and Elise Jenswold; grandsons Harrison and Charlie Warner; and brothers Jeffrey Hunter and his wife, Deborah Wisnet-Hunter, and Timothy Hunter. He was preceded in death by his parents.
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