by Nathan Anderson

A few months before attending this year’s 2014 class reunion, Drs. David and Audrey Otto realized that their two sons, Henry and Peter, share their names with the UAB School of Optometry’s (UABSO) founding dean, Dr. Henry Peters.    

Audrey, class of 2013, attended the reunion with her husband since the couple met during optometry school and married a few weeks after her graduation.  

In 2016, they had their first son, Henry, and shortly after, they had their second son, Peter. The couple had researched thousands of baby names, selecting these names out of sheer coincidence. They only realized recently that their children are named after UABSO’s founding dean when fellow alumnus Dr. Jacob Ivey, class of 2006, pointed it out.  

“The fact that their names match the UABSO founding father’s is perhaps a subconscious coincidence,” David said. “We did not even realize the naming similarity until very recently.”     

Many students have met and married at the School, sometimes leading their children to become optometrists. Audrey is unsure what careers their children will pursue; however, she hopes that whatever they decide will make them happy. 

“Henry used to say he wanted to be an optometrist, but mostly because he wanted to go to work with us,” Audrey said. “He has since changed his mind and wants to be a paleontologist, and Peter says he wants to be a police officer. Time will tell what they decide to be, but we just hope one day they find a career they love.”