Edward J. Diamond of Old Forge, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 26, 2015, at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, surrounded by the love of his family. He was predeceased last September by his wife of many years, Mary.
Ed was born on March 2, 1926, in Utica, the son of the late Augustus and Monica (Sobja) Diamond. His father immigrated from Greece and his mother from Poland.
After arriving in the U.S., they started Diamond’s Market, a family run deli/grocery store in Utica.
As a young boy, Ed along with his brothers, Jim and Fred, and his sister Mary (Sobel) worked in the family store.
He attended St Francis of Assisi High School before serving his country with honor in the United States Army during World War II.
Upon his return, he married Myrtle Raser, of Utica who passed away in 1970.
They had four children: Mark, Stephanie, John, and Cathy.
For many years, they had a summer home on Hollywood Hills Road, not far from The Narrows.
Ed met his second wife, Mary Maio of Utica, at Foley’s Northwoods Inn.
After wooing her with dancing and canoeing to Kissing Rock on First Lake they married, moving to Old Forge where they built Mary’s three-room camp on Fletcher Road into the Diamond family home raising their four children.
Ed and Mary lived there until 2005 when they built and moved to their retirement home on Twin Ponds.
Ed served as a respected Town of Webb Councilman for several terms and was instrumental in establishing snowmaking for McCauley Mountain.
He was active in many community organizations and activities including the Polar Bear Ski Club where he was Secretary for a time; VIEW, where he helped to set up and take down exhibitions and help with mailings; the annual whitewater kayak races and driving the Community Transportation Van.
Ed built a business from a flea market selling collectables into Antiques & Articles.
The store filled the entire three-story, and basement, of the former Brandisi’s Restaurant in the center of town.
It was an icon for tourists and antique dealers who made sure they always stopped in for a deal whenever passing through town.
Ed retired from the store at the young age of 79.
Ed and Mary loved Old Forge and called it home, a place filled with people they cared for and who cared for them.
With their passing, we, their children and extended family, will miss them greatly and thank you for the love and care shown to them these past few years.
