William Diamond, widely renowned as cabinetmaker
by By Bonnie L. Cook, Staff Writer, Posted: May 13, 2016
William Diamond, 97, of Langhorne, a master cabinetmaker, died Thursday, May 5, of congestive heart failure at Abramson Center for Jewish Life in North Wales.
His death came eight days after he and his wife, Ruth "Teddy" Diamond, celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.
Mr. Diamond spent his career handcrafting reproductions of 18th-century British and American furniture for display in homes and museums. He also produced pews and pulpits for churches and synagogues before retiring in 2004.
Born in Philadelphia to Ukrainian immigrants, Mr. Diamond helped his family by delivering ice to businesses in North Philadelphia and hawking newspapers. He dropped out of school in eighth grade, and ever after was self-taught.
He became apprenticed to a cabinetmaker, showing an early gift for intricate woodwork. In 1935, he was hired by the Menin Furniture Co. in Philadelphia, and worked there off and on for 30 years.
In 1938, he met Ruth Heindish, but because he was too shy to ask her out, he had a friend call on his behalf. They were married in 1941.
Mr. Diamond enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He was deployed to the Philippines and New Guinea, where he built military bases with the Seabees.
By the spring of 1951, Mr. Diamond and his wife had settled with two young daughters in Strawberry Mansion. But the horrors of the Holocaust inspired the couple to sell their belongings and move to Gesher HaZiv, a kibbutz in northern Israel. He worked in the fields and built furniture until his wife's illness forced their return to the Philadelphia area.
Mr. Diamond took advantage of the GI bill to buy a home in Levittown. In 1968, the family moved to Langhorne, where he set up his own cabinetmaking business.
International antique dealer and appraiser Charlie Steinberg said Mr. Diamond was as expert a carver and inlayer as he was a finisher and gold-leaf gilder.
"I've traveled the world and watched some of the best cabinetmakers, and never saw anyone who could do all these skills as expertly as Willy," Steinberg said.
Mr. Diamond believed in helping others. He mentored novice woodworkers. In addition to caring for their own four children, he and his wife reared a child in need of a family, at the request of their synagogue.
The Diamonds volunteered into their 80s at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, shopping and performing home repairs for the disabled. They donated annually to the federation and other causes.
Mr. Diamond was a quiet man who thrived on working in his wood shop. He handcrafted highboys, secretary desks, drop-leaf tables, Windsor chairs, bureaus, and grandfather clocks.
When not working, he enjoyed hiking, sledding, high diving, reading, and listening to classical music. He had been a vegetarian since the 1960s.
He especially relished Diamond family gatherings. "Going to their house always brought me so much peace," said niece Tina Mullins.
Granddaughter Mia Blitstein said that as a younger man, Mr. Diamond was available for help with studies. "Today's kids have Google, but when I was a kid and needed an answer for homework, we called my grandfather, who pretty much knew everything," she said. "I am so lucky to have had many years with him."
Besides his wife, granddaughter, and niece, he is survived by daughters Marcy Garb, Yona D. Dansky, and Hedy Sturgis; sons David and Gill; eight other grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Mr. Diamond donated his body to medical science. Services were Sunday, May 8.
