Florence Diamond
7/16/2010

Florence “Flo” Diamond, 68, of New York City formerly of Altoona, Pa. died peacefully after a short illness on Friday, July 16, 2010 in West Chester, Pa.  She was born May 13, 1942 in Altoona, the daughter of the late William (Stag Sportswear) and Ruth (Schulman) Diamond.  Flo retired April 1, 2010 as the Administrator of the Milhauser Foundation of NYU Medical Center after 46 years of service.  Her long career began as a Research Psychologist.  She was a graduate of Altoona High School and Penn State University.  Flo enjoyed theater, travel, her cats and had a passion for genealogy.  Florence was a philanthropist donating  frequently to some of her favorite causes such as Ellis Island, NYU School of Medicine, Statue of Liberty, Penn State, the Genealogical Society, and her local Synagogue  She is survived by her uncle David Diamond of Winnipeg, Canada, and many cousins.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, July 19, 2010 at Agudath Achim Cemetery, Altoona, PA.  Arrangements are being handled by E. Merrill Smith Funeral Home, Inc., 2309 Broad Avenue, Altoona. Friends may express condolences at www.smithfuneralcenter.com.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice.


Service
A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, July 19, 2010 at Agudath Achim Cemetery, Altoona, PA.

Contributions
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Faith(Szuhaj)Vollenweider 7/18/2010 5:09:00 PM
Long distance ,heartfelt regrets on your loss. We were classmates from Garfield through PSU. We shared many happy memories and neighborhood stories. With my sincere sympathy, Faith (Susie Szuhaj)Wojtowicz-Vollenweider

Judy Schulman Harhai 7/19/2010 7:42:00 PM
Florence was the oldest of the Schulman cousins and was always thought of with respect and admiration. Condolences to friends and families who mourn her passing.

Royal (Lurie) Duncan 7/19/2010 9:15:00 PM
I always will treasure the time I spent with Florence and her parents while growing up in Altoona. Uncle Bill and Aunt Ruth and Grandma Schulman were very special in my heart. Florence was a wonderful caring person, her memory will be a blessing for all.

Rebecca Cohen 7/21/2010 10:33:00 AM
Cousin Florence was an enigma, now that I look back. Generous to her younger cousins, especially when we were kids and she led the way from the synagogue to Bubbe Schulman's house where we all ate lunch, but in other ways guarded and removed, especially during her later years. Happiest memories of Florence--Passover. A seder in Bubbe's little dining room with that wonderful laminated photo of 6 brothers, my uncles who all served in WWII hanging behind Uncle Bill as he sat at the head of the table and led the service with scowling efficiency. I can actually still lay my hands on the tiny tea set we kids got for finding the afikomen. And Passover at Aunt Ruth's home the year Florence brought a "friend" to Altoona and we all sat for what seemed like hours singing Hebrew songs around the table. Convoluted conversations, Kips Bay apartment, shared family stories, a love of kitties and all things Jewish and a lifetime of intentions never quite realized. This is the end of an era, I think, and of one family line. Uncle Bill, Aunt Ruth and Florence, gone yet ever present in my life.

Carol Stropkay-nyu 7/22/2010 8:31:00 PM
Flo-hope you are at peace-you are missed--so many people here at nyu have asked me about you--God bless

Mark Schulman 7/27/2010 12:20:00 AM
My mother, Florence's Aunt Lillian, remembers first meeting Florence when my father, Irving (Itchy), brought her to meet his family before they married. I have been told that my father, who had a warm, playful and modest demeanor, was Florence's favorite uncle. Since my parents settled in Philadelphia after WWII rather than Altoona, as the rest of the large Schulman clan did, we saw the family only one or two times a year, often for Passover or other holidays, and I have wonderful memories of those visits. I have only the fondest recollections of my Cousin Florence. She was at Penn State during my freshman year and I remember the trouble she had with a statistics course. After failing it once she finally passed and ironically used statistics regularly in her first job in New York City working with Professor Alpert. My mom, brother Jerry and I also were grateful for the assistance and comfort she gave us during my father's funeral; coming down to Philadelphia by train in the snow. On behalf of my immediate family I extend condolences and love to all who were touched by this loss.

Chris Z 8/10/2010 2:26:00 AM
Flo was my genealogy buddy at the New York Public Library. I hadn't seen her since Oct 2009, worried about her health but she never responded to my emails. I am sad to find out she passed away and that I will never again see her sitting at the library's computers. Hoping she found the answer to all her genealogy mysteries. I will miss you Flo.

vincent a katinas 8/10/2010 5:53:00 PM
flo will be missed at the ny public library by all her genealogy friends. she was a great help to me many, many times

timothy diamond 8/15/2010 10:30:00 PM
I think flo is my grandmother Peggy diamond cousin,,, she was also from Chester,,,I'm in a real big search of family please help,,,my great great grandma is a woman name Florence diamond (johnson) before she married a diamond,,,, email me titen2012@gmail.com and in Facebook search engine is the same

Tom Sinclair, Alexandria, VA 8/17/2010 8:27:00 AM
Good-bye Flo. It was great to know her. I learned a bunch about genealogy from Flo. Flo would sit next to me in the NYC Public Library and teach me about research.A good pal.

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