The members of the Georgia Biomedical Instrumentation Society would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Dr. Clarence Michael O’Rear. As we grew to know and love Dr. Mike, we also grew to love his family. His lovely wife, Dianne, and his grandson, Dylan, gave freely of their time in supporting the efforts of GBIS. We are grateful to his entire family for sharing him with us.

Dr. Mike was a friend to many, a kind soul who cared deeply, a family man who loved beyond measure, and a mentor to a great number of individuals who went on to lead productive lives of service to others as skilled technicians. As an instructor in the Technical College System of Georgia, Dr. O’Rear prepared many students for a career in Biomedical Instrumentation.

So much of the work of maintaining the life-saving medical equipment in the Atlanta metro area and beyond is possible because of his leadership, vision, and dedication to this field that GBIS was founded to support.

His guidance instilled confidence in those who would graduate from his technical training program to enter their newfound careers as Biomedical Equipment Technicians, or BMETs.

Many of those whose lives he touched through this important training are here today to join us in expressing our sorrow at his passing and our celebration of the life of service that he lived.

Until we meet again, Dr. Mike, we will remember you and be thankful for the time that you spent here with us.