APPOINTMENTS

Armand Panetta was named national sales manager at Vintage Creations of Freehold, N.J. Panetta has worked in the mid-Atlantic sales region for the company for several years. Vintage Creations also appointed three new sales representatives: Linda Herbert, covering Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean; Ronald E. Russell, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware; and Shilan Fine, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan.

John Kroeger was appointed vice president of sales at Laura Ashley Timepieces, Beverly Hills, Cal. Before joining Laura Ashley, Kroeger spent 11 years with Gucci Timepieces as national sales director.

Jeff Pancis of Pancis Gems, Morris Plains, N.J., is now also an adviser to The Guide, a monthly gem pricing publication. Pancis Gems, along with Fancoldi Registered Trust of Switzerland, introduced star-shaped diamonds in 1993. Pancis also helped Australia’s Argyle Diamond Co. to introduce champagne diamonds into the U.S.

Nancy Pier Sindt, formerly the fashion editor of National Jeweler magazine, has joined the team of JA Las Vegas! as a design consultant and director for the show’s Designer Pavilion. She handles the layout, design and promotion of the designer exhibition gallery. Sindt is a member of the Women’s Jewelry Association and is a recipient of the WJA Annual Award for Excellence in Jewelry Editorial.

Syratech Corp.(tm), East Boston, Mass., named Klaus Wegner senior vice president of Farberware Home Products. A subsidiary of Syratech acquired certain assets of Farberware Inc. in April. Syratech manufactures, markets and distributes tabletop, giftware and seasonal products under trade names such as Wallace Silversmiths®#-82#, International Silver Company®#-82#, and Silvestri Inc®#-82#.

Jay W. Jackson is the new vice president of sales for Stuller of Lafayette, La. Jackson, formerly national sales manager for parts and accessories at Sears, Roebuck &Co., is now responsible for telemarketing sales, corporate sales and customer service departments at Stuller.

HONORS

The National Foundation for Jewish Genetic Diseases Inc. will honor Jeffrey W.Comment, chairman and chief executive officer of Helzberg Diamonds, Nov. 7. He will be recognized for his contributions to the industry. The event will be held in the Marriott Marquis in New York, N.Y.

OBITUARIES

Grady Lee Downey, 84, of Springfield, Tenn., a retired jeweler and owner of the former Downey & Jones Jewelry Store, died Sept. 17.

Mahlon A. “Mal” Tullar, 74, of Brandon, Miss., a retired jeweler, died Aug. 11.

Roy Kathryn Duncan, 74, of Vicksburg, Miss., retired owner of Duncan Jewelers and Gifts, died Aug. 5.

Charles Dean Claytor, 40, originally of Detroit, Mich., died in July in Atlanta, Ga. He was assistant sales manager at Ross-Simons Jewelers in Atlanta and supervised watch sales.

Bernard Rosenberg, 72, of Philadelphia, Pa., died Aug. 31. Rosenberg was founder of the chain of Bernie Robbins jewelry stores in metropolitan Philadelphia. He began in retail sales, where one of his early managers anglicized his name, dubbing him Bernie Robbins. He later opened an appliance store that gradually expanded to include jewelry. Eventaully, he opened stores devoted exclusively to jewelry.