The executive committee of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, headed by WFDB president Ernest Blom issued a statement today, mourning the death of an honorary president and one of its former presidents, Seymour Rosenthal of New York, who passed away on Aug. 21, at the age of 89.

Born in 1917 in New York City, Seymour Rosenthal entered the diamond business right out of school, at the age of 18. He was a first generation diamantaire who worked his way up from cutting and polishing diamonds, to manufacturing rough and trading polished goods.

In the 1970s, Rosenthal became a member of the Diamond Trade and Precious Stone Association of America (DTPSA) in New York, ultimately serving two terms as its president during the 1980s. He was elected WFDB president in 1982 to 1986, serving two terms. Since 1960, Rosenthal also was a member of the much larger Diamond Dealers Club of New York.  

Outside the business realm, Rosenthal engaged in a variety of charities. He was an important supporter of the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikwa, Israel, and he was also active in the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, as well as the Forest Hills Jewish Center of New York.

Seymour Rosenthal is survived by his wife Lillian and daughter Ilyse.

JCK