John Allan Diamond, who ran his father’s business, Diamond’s furniture store on Main Street in East Hampton, until 1995, died on March 2 at home in East Hampton. He was 70 and had been ill with Alzheimer’s disease.
His future wife, Marjorie Stiepel, came to visit cousins here when she was still a teenager. Mr. Diamond was dating one of those cousins at the time, and that’s how they met. They were married on Aug. 24, 1971, and she cared for him at home during his illness.
As a young man, Mr. Diamond aspired to become a police officer, and though he never did, he was able to rekindle those dreams when he became a partner in Pond View Services, a security and investigations company that he started with Mike Tracey, the current chief of the East Hampton Village Police Department. While with Pond View, he met former President Bill Clinton. But whether he was dealing with an ex-president or just someone buying furniture, he treated everyone the same, his family said, with pride, a smile, and a sense of happiness.
Mr. Diamond was a member of the Masonic Temple, Star of the East Lodge No. 843, since 1982. He served two terms on the East Hampton School Board, and volunteered with the Lions Club here. For 34 years he served with the East Hampton Fire Department, reaching the rank of captain and earning honors as fireman of the year.
When his sons played Little League baseball, he was often seen maintaining the scorecard.
The Diamonds owned a second home in Vermont, where Mr. Diamond enjoyed skiing and snowmobiling. In the early 1980s, the family began skiing at Burke Mountain, and Mr. Diamond named his beloved yellow Labrador “Burkie.” He also spent time in the Caribbean and enjoyed driving his 1974 Corvette. A vacation in Belize with his sons inspired him to obtain scuba-diving certification.
His friends described him as authentic, selfless, and loyal. He would do anything for anyone, they said. He was known to let loose on the dance floor, with or without the help of his favorite drink, Jack Daniel’s.
Born on May 29, 1951, at Southampton Hospital, he was the younger son of Herman and Grace Diamond. After graduating from East Hampton High School, he attended Suffolk Community College.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two sons, Jay Diamond and Chris Diamond of East Hampton, their wives, Dawn Diamond and Meredith Diamond, and four grandchildren, Carson, Owen, Cooper, and Addison. He also leaves a brother, Martin Diamond.
The family received visitors at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton on Tuesday. Mr. Diamond was buried the next day at Cedar Lawn Cemetery.
The family has suggested donations to East End Hospice, online at eeh.org, the East Hampton Fire Department Scholarship Fund, 1 Cedar Street, East Hampton 11937, or the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/longisland or 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago 60601, with “In memory of John Diamond for research” included.
