Tim Lankford, husband of Judith Shechter-Lankford of GIA Education, died June 5, 2003, after a battle against cancer. He was 48.

Lankford was born in Kansas City, Kansas, to Bonnie and T.J. Lankford on Nov. 2, 1954. He married Judith Shechter on Nov. 17, 1976. He was familiar to many in the industry through his frequent trips to trade shows and GIA events with Judi, who has been in the industry for nearly 30 years, including nearly 20 with GIA. Tim and Judi have two children, Toby and Sarah. Tim is also survived by his father, T.J. Lankford; sisters Sherry Lankford-Johnston and Karen Cook; and a brother, Tommy Lankford.

After graduating in 1973 from Shawnee Mission East High School in Kansas City, Lankford moved to San Francisco and later to Los Angeles where he attended SCI Arch Architecture School in Santa Monica and UCLA. On their anniversary in 1986, the Lankfords began to build their home in Malibu. Tim had a lifelong love of baseball, sports, and cooking and was devoted to his family. He coached Little League Baseball, Pony League, and AYSO soccer. He also held positions on the boards of directors of those organizations. His extended family includes Nathan and Ruth Shechter, Tom Johnston, Danny Cook and Thana Lankford, Jerry and Jen Shechter, David and Gayle Shechter, Victoria Shechter-Catlin and his nieces and nephews. Friends who wish to make donations in his name are asked to consider Jeweler’s Charity Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation.

JCK