Richard “Dick” Greenwood (pictured), the affable and widely respected gem dealer who was active in many industry associations, died on April 13. He was 70.
Greenwood headed A.F. Greenwood & Co., a gem company that was established by his father Frederick Greenwood in 1942, and was involved in a number of trade associations, often in a leadership role. He served as president of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) twice, chairman of the Jewelers Board of Trade, president of the New York Jewelers Group, president of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York, and he was a board member of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.
Doug Parker, a business partner and longtime friend of Greenwood’s, called him a “quiet giant who never took credit for things he did.
“He didn’t have an ego,” Parker says. “He was humble, he was honest, he was loyal. He could see different sides of issues. He could understand different perspectives. He could find a resolution and mediate. He might not always agree, but he could discuss perspectives with people.”
That was echoed by AGTA CEO Doug Hucker, who worked with Greenwood during his time as the group’s president.
“He was always even-tempered, always listened to people, and when he gave advice, you always felt, regardless of whatever side you were on, that he was thinking about what was best for the association.
“Dick was not pretentious in any way, shape, or form,” he adds. “He was one of those guys that, the moment you met him, you felt like you were friends.”
Todd Wolleman, a fellow gem dealer, friend, and resident of the same town, called Greenwood a “fantastic listener” who was often called upon to settle disputes in the gem industry.
And though he became quite successful, he never acted like it, Wolleman says.
“He was salt of the earth, very middle-class, never glitzy. He wasn’t the kind of guy who would go to a cocktail reception and look for the head of Signet. He stressed relationships more than numbers in a bank account.”
Adds Wolleman: “They say some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Dick was the opposite. He knew the value of people.”
Greenwood is survived by Trudi, his wife of 47 years, as well as son Dan and daughter Amy.
(Top image via: Facebook)
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