Harriet Ruth Diamond

Harriet R. (Gorfinkle) Diamond, age 74, late of Salem and Boynton Beach, FL; formerly a 50 year resident of Marblehead, MA; originally a native of Lynn, MA, died after a six and a half year battle with ovarian cancer. Devoted and beloved wife of over 51 years of Dr. Alan Diamond of Salem. She was the daughter of the late Meyer and Betty (Rebecca) Gorfinkle of Lynn and Marblehead, MA.

Graduate of Lynn English High School & Simmons College; Office Manager for Dr. Diamond for over 30 years.

Very active in Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization; former Lynn-Swampscott-Marblehead Chapter president; Northern New England Region President; Member of the Hadassah National Board, member of the Sabra group of Hadassah, Boca Raton, FL; Founder and Keeper of the Gate for the organization. Life-long member of Congregation Shirat Hayam, and its predecessor, Temple Beth El in Lynn and Swampscott, serving on its Board of Directors for over over 18 years. Member of local charitable group Juvenile Aid, giving scholarships to local college students. Member of the Simmon Alumni of the North Shore. Active member of the Palm Chase Condominium Social Club and several other groups in Boynton Beach, FL.

During her battle with ovarian cancer, she became an active participant in an on-line support group for ovarian cancer patients, and various fund raising groups for ovarian cancer awareness. She also was an original member of Surviors Teaching Students wherein ovarian cancer survivors explain the vague symptoms of presentation to medical students during their gynecologist education rotations.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three devoted children, Amy Taros and her husband Erik of Swampscott, Lisa Diamond and her husband Carl Easterday of Oakland, CA and Dr. Jill Diamond and her husband George Halvorson of Salem; three cherished grandchildren, Trent Taros, Kyra Easterday and Andrew Halvorson; two loving brothers, Dr. Arthur Goren of Long Island and Michael Gorfinkle of Salem; a dear sister-in-law, Sondra Markowitz of Berkeley, CA; a dear brother-in-law, Harold Diamond and his wife Debra of Rockville, MD and aunt to numerous nephews and nieces. She was also sister-in-law of the late Sari Goren and Lynn Gorfinkle.

Services at Congregation Shirat Hayam, 55 Atlantic Avenue, Swampscott on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 1:00 PM. Interment at Congregation Shirat Hayam Cemetery, Beth El Section, Lowell Street, Peabody. Memorial Observance at her late residence following the interment on Tuesday and on Wednesday and Thursday 2-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Hadassah, Congregation Shirat Hayam or Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Penn Plaza, Suite 1710, NY, NY 10122. Arrangements under the direction of Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel www.stanetsky.com