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DIAMOND, SYLVIA passed away on May 15, 2013 at Landsun Home in Carlsbad. Her life was blessed. She was 89 years old, born to Jeanette and Louis Kurinsky in Lakewood, New Jersey where she lived until moving to New Mexico in 1984. She retired as a teacher in the Lakewood Public Schools. An Orthodox Jewish funeral will be conducted by Rabbi Chaim Shmukler with private graveside burial on Friday at Vista Verde Cemetery in Rio Rancho. Sylvia leaves her two children: Jeff Diamond and his wife, Evy, of Carlsbad; and Connie Diamond of Albuquerque. Sylvia married Jeff and Connie's father, Norman Diamond, in 1946 and he preceded her in death in 2011. She is also survived by two brothers, Rudy and Herbert Kurinsky, and their wives, Abby and Vicki, respectively, who reside in New Jersey. Brothers Irving (wife Betty) and Chester Kurinsky (wife Claire) predeceased her. Sylvia graduated from Georgian Court College with a BA in 1945. She was one of its first Jewish graduates and proud of her long relationship with the Sisters of Mercy, and with Monsignor, later Archbishop, Fulton J. Sheen, who were her professors. She studied at Rutgers and Columbia University. She was a distinguished artist and watercolorist, and she taught every subject, including art, at every grade level over 37 years. She was especially proud to have trained new teachers at State Teacher's Colleges in New Jersey, and having taught new teaching methods and curriculum at New Jersey Education Association Conventions, professional development workshops, and been on accrediting teams in the Northeast. She was a calligraphy demonstrator for the Speedball Pen Company and Binney and Smith Crayola products. She authored two books, "Calligraphy with Class," and Crafts Ideas, and wrote numerous articles which were published by Davis Publications in 'School Arts' Magazine, and in the 'Instructor' Magazine. In 1965 she was invited by the State Department to accompany a ship of Horizon Club Campfire Girls to South America on a good will tour to promote the arts in education. She went through life as an optimist, always finding the best in people, particularly children. She enjoyed teaching art and reading through the arts in juvenile detention facilities. Many of her students became teachers because of her example, as well as distinguished artists in the fields of animation, jewelry design, commercial art and graphics, and painting. Sylvia never said no to any organization in or out of school, buying supplies herself and volunteering to make signs, build stage sets and backdrops, calligraph award certificates, invitations, make costumes or a hundred other creative projects. She was a champion of the underdog, and in her annual summer arts festival, she always encouraged aspiring artists, from the very young to senior citizens, to enter projects, compete, and market their crafts. Her motto was "Example is better than Precept." She loved her students, and literally worked night and day to give them a superior educational and creative experience. Every lesson she taught encouraged them to be good citizens, protect the environment, and be kind to each other. She was one of the first inductees in the Lakewood High School Hall of Fame. Sylvia left loving grandchildren, twins Lauren Kreiss and Jennifer Kreiss Mance (husband Tony); Max and the late, Shannon Shaw (wife Christine); and great-grandchildren, Marlena and Jacob Shaw and Margaret Evalynn Mance. She and her family are grateful for the very highest quality care she received from the staff at Landsun Home and the dignity with which she was treated by Landsun Hospice. Instead of flowers, the family urges friends to give love and affection to a child, your own or someone else's, to contribute to Boys and Girls Clubs, Scouting, or to the arts programs in your local public schools.
        Published on: Fri May 17, 2013