SPRATFORD, NASSAU RETIRE FROM GIA BOARD
Kansas jeweler Robert E. Spratford and Bell Laboratories scientist Dr. Kurt Nassau retired from the Gemological Institute of America Board of Governors Nov. 7.
Spratford, 75, reached the mandatory retirement age for service on the board. He received a 50-year service pin from GIA President William E. Boyajian and Chairman Richard T. Liddicoat, as well as a 50-point diamond. Spratford began his studies at GIA in 1944. During a ceremony at GIA headquarters in Santa Monica, Cal., he expressed his thanks “for all GIA has done for me and for the industry.”
Nassau is taking a sabbatical after serving 20 consecutive years on the board. He has written 200 gemological articles and holds 16 patents as a Bell Labs scientist. “Nothing else has been more fun than the study of gemology,” he told the gathering.
GIA RECOGNIZES 32 LONG-TIME EMPLOYEES
The Gemological Institute of America has honored 32 employees for their service.
Ruth Patchick, research librarian, was honored with a 20-year service pin. Receiving 10-year pins were Peter Johnston, a graphic artist; Larry Lavitt, an instructor; and Richard Lua, senior mail processor.
Twenty-eight employees marked their five-year anniversaries with GIA.
“The continuity that our staff provides allows us to maintain our service to the industry at the highest level of excellence,” said GIA President William E. Boyajian.
UJA-FEDERATION TO HONOR ZALE’S LARRY POLLOCK
Larry Pollock, president and chief operating officer of Zale Corp., will be honored at the annual dinner of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation Diamond Jewelry & Watch Division. The dinner will be held March 6 in the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, N.Y.
Pollock will be honored for his leadership in the industry and his support and involvement in Jewish and civic causes. He has been a supporter of the Cleveland Jewish Federation, the Anti-Defamation League, the Bellflower Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, the Cleveland Better Business Bureau and Jewish Big Brothers and Sisters.
Wolf Blitzer, CNN White House correspondent, will be the keynote speaker. Jo Ann Connolly, vice president of merchandising for Zale’s stores, is the dinner chairwoman.
The UJA-Federation is a source for private funding of social services in New York, Israel and Jewish communities in 50 countries. Various campaigns and income initiatives raise money for human services, cultural and educational programs. Money is allocated among a worldwide network of beneficiary agencies.
For reservations, call Nurit Seri-Pokart at (212) 836-1115.
SPEIDEL TEXTRON NAMES CHAIRMAN
Alfred M. Massotti was named chairman of Speidel Textron, Providence, R.I. Massotti has served as president of Speidel since 1979 and has been with the division for 49 years.
William H. Walsh succeeds Massotti as president. He was formerly president of McCord Winn Textron, Winchester, Mass.
OTHER APPOINTMENTS
Richard Buonocore was named vice president of administration at North American Watch Corp., Lyndhurst, N.J.
Kevin James Byler was named senior associate of Elleard B. Heffern Fine Jewelers, St. Louis, Mo. He formerly managed the precious jewelry department at Neiman Marcus’s North Park store in Dallas, Tex.
Donald Dunsker was named regional marketing manager for the upper midwestern U.S. at Tissot, New York, N.Y. He was formerly with Citizen in sales management. Also at Tissot, Michael Carmen was named regional marketing manager for the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Northwest areas.
Liza Greenwald was appointed product development coordinator at the Charles Sadek Import Co., New Rochelle, N.Y. She was formerly with the Brooklyn Museum.
Ronald J. Kappus was named vice president of sales at Kurt Gutmann Jewelry Inc., Newtown, Pa. He has been with the company since 1983. Cathy Chapman joined the company’s office staff. She formerly worked at QVC and Memoire Corp.
Lee Lazar was named national sales manager at Mercury Ring Corp., Englewood, N.J. Also at Mercury, Reva Cohen was named head of customer relations, Andrea Bergman was named vice president of marketing and Diane Kay-Smith joined the sales force.
Jeanne E. Toomey was promoted to senior vice president in the Precious Metals division at Hospital Trust, Providence, R.I.
Clark Lofgren was promoted to director of design at Reed & Barton Silversmiths, Taunton, Mass. He was formerly manager of design.
Jim Littman was named director of development at the Gemological Institute of America, Santa Monica, Cal. He was formerly director of the Jewish National Fund of Los Angeles and an executive consultant to the United Jewish Appeal.
OBITUARIES
Jimmy Anderson, 37, died Oct. 28 in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was a sales representative specializing in the mass-merchandising division of Ullenberg Corp.
Jay Diamond, 62, of Chattanooga, Tenn., died of a heart attack Nov. 12. He was a retired jewelry salesman with 25 years of service to the industry.
Norville E. Hawk, 83, a retired gemologist, died of cancer Nov. 3 in Ft. Belvoir, Washington, D.C. He managed a jewelry store in Alexandria, Va., until joining the Schlosser jewelry company in the early 1950s. He retired in the early 1980s. Hawk was a World War II navy veteran and was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association and the American Gem Society.
Paul Schultz, 79, founder of Paul Schultz Cos., died Nov. 11 in Louisville, Ky. Schultz launched Paul Schultz Catalogs in 1967 in the basement of his home. The company has grown into an operation with marketing, merchandising, creative/graphics and photography divisions. It’s housed in a 90,000-sq.-ft. facility, employs 140 people and produces more than 250 million publications annually. Schultz was named Man of the Year by the B’nai Brith/St. Jude Hospital and received the Leadership Award from the National Association of Catalog Showroom Merchandisers.