Mary Diamond of Old Forge, passed away on September 16, 2014 after a brief illness at the Sunset Nursing Home in Boonville, NY.
Mary was born in Erie, PA on September 20, 1928. Her parents, John and Mary Maio, immigrated fro
m Medeira, Portugal. Mary was the youngest of four siblings, Elizabeth, Anthony and John.
The family moved to the Utica, NY area where Mary lived until 1970.
Mary built her camp on the shores of First ake on Fletcher Road, and entertained friends, family, nieces and nephews who playe
d with her dog Prince and her cat Jinxy.
She met Ed Diamond and together they built Mary’s camp into the Diamond family home where they raised Mark, Stephanie, John and Cathy.
Mary’s brother John contributed much of the construction while the Diamond family worked to change this small three-room camp into a family home on the lake.
She devoted her life to her family and hared her love of the Adirondacks with them, teaching three generations to ski, snowshoe, and enjoy the woodlands.
Mary was one of the best things to come into our lives and she will be more than missed.
Throughout her life her pets played an important part of her life. As a young girl she dressed her cat, Bootsie, in baby clothes and pushed him around in a baby carriage. In recent years she doted over her cats and was reassured during her last days that her two remaining cats would be well cared for.
Mary had always been active and loved the outdoors. She was an avid skier and learned to ski in Old Forge when the ski train ran from Utica…a long time ago!
She downhill skied up until 80 years old and then took up snowshoeing.Mary is one of the few grandmothers to take her first grandson snow sledding at Maple Ridge—and 30 years later she took her last granddaughter sledding as well.
In the off season she planned and tended to her flower garden, enjoying the birds, and cats and her friends as she weeded and planted.
Mary thrived on serving the community of Old Forge including Girl Scouts, Kinderwood, Polar Bear Ski Club, Food Pantry, Loaves & Fishes Luncheons, St. Bart’s Altar Rosary Society, View and the Garden Club, to name a few.
Folks will miss her famous apple log t the next Altar Rosary Society bake sale!
There is so much to share about this wonderful, vibrant woman who loved her family and her community but there is not enough space in this paper; so take some time in these next days and weeks to share your favorite Mary Diamond story with a friend and celebrate her life!
