KINGSTON – Robert W. Diamond, Jr., a Kingston resident since 1995, formerly of Wappingers Falls and Westchester County, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. He was 84.
Son of the late Robert W. Diamond, Sr. and Marjorie (Rickert) Diamond, he was born in Portchester on September 19, 1938. In 1956, he graduated from Mamaroneck High School, where Bob was recognized as an outstanding baseball player. In 1957, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served until he was honorably discharged from active service in 1960. He remained a member of the U.S. Army Reserve until 1963.
Bob was a dedicated employee and hard-working person. At the age of 79, he retired from Kingston Hospital, where he worked as a security guard and courier for many years. He formerly owned and operated Buchanan Floor Cleaners and had also worked for some time at I.B.M. following his military service.
He was an avid bowler and played in the Mamaroneck ABC and IBM Bowling Leagues. His passion for baseball lasted a lifetime, as he played the sport throughout his youth and much of his adult life as well for various intramural leagues.
Bob will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His favorite pastime was being with his family. He was kind, generous, and was always willing to offer a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He was well-liked and respected by all those who knew him in the community.
On November 5, 1983, he married Donna L. Billone at the First Reformed Church of Fishkill. Donna survives at home in Kingston.
Additional survivors include his daughter, Kristin Sims & her husband Gregory of Poughkeepsie; his son, Robert W. Diamond, III & his wife Madeline of Cortlandt; his stepdaughter, Lisa Berghahn & her husband Robert of Poughquag; his grandchildren: Ryan, Alexis, & Camryn Sims, Giana Diamond, Courtney Berghahn, Allison Herbert & her husband Jim, Caroline Harris & her husband Kyle, and Lieutenant Robert Berghahn, US Army (who proudly followed in his grandfather's footsteps); his brother, Ronald Diamond & his wife Angie; his mother-in-law, Leonora Billone; his siblings-in-law: Michael Billone and Brenda & Dan Glaser; as well as several nieces, nephews, and many other loving relatives & friends. Bob was excitedly looking forward to becoming a great-grandfather this spring.
In addition to his parents, Bob was also predeceased by his brother, Steven Diamond.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, January 6 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill, NY. A funeral service will be conducted at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 7.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org).
For online tributes, you can visit Bob's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.