GIA’S 1997 LEAGUE OF HONOR SOVEREIGNS
The Gemological Institute of America recently inducted 12 members to its League of Honor.
GIA created this award to recognize industry professionals who contributed $100,000 or more to GIA’s Vision 2000 campaign, which supports GIA’s mission to educate and serve the gem and jewelry industry and to protect the public’s trust in the trade.
1997 inductees are Hassan Ali Ahmad, Amira Aya, N.V.; Albert Boghossian and Jean Boghossian, Boghossian, S.A.; Thomas H. Chatham, Chatham Created Gems; Helene Fortunoff, Fortunoff Fine Jewelry; Laurence Graff, House of Graff; Kikuichiro Ishii, Mikimoto Co. Ltd.; Tse Sui Luen, Tse Sui Luen Jewellery Co. Ltd.; Rashmi Mehta, Gembel, N.V.; Robert Mouawad, Mouawad Group; Koichi Takahashi, Mikimoto Co. Ltd.; and the South Sea Pearl Consortium.
Appointments
Anthony Frank was named vice president of sales and marketing at Gannon & Scott Inc., Cranston, R.I., a refiner and assayer of precious metals.
Michael Anthony named Mark Hanna senior vice president of sales. Peter Artzt was named vice president of the firm’s family jewelry division. In addition, Anthony Paolerico was named president, asuming all factory operation responsibilities. Shelly Light becomes executive vice president, taking charge of the distribution center.
Debra Sidorowicz was promoted to store manager at Shreve, Crump & Low’s Chestnut Hill (Boston, Mass.) store. She has been with the firm for 14 years.
John J. Alves, Jr. joined Triad Inc./Royal Findings Inc., Chartley, Mass., to work in sales and customer service. He has 38 years of experience in jewelry findings.
David Elan was named director of sales for Chase-Durer Ltd., a Beverly Hills and Geneva-based watch company. He will be in charge of both domestic and international retail accounts.
Christopher Cioffi joined the Management Information System Dept. of Hoover & Strong Inc. in Richmond, Va. He will serve as network administrator and webmaster.
International Gemological Institute, New York, hired graders and gemologists Steve Rees, Daniel Cho, Brendan Sahner, Kimee Chan and Glen Munro. All are former employees of Gemological Institute of America’s Gem Trade Lab.
Obituaries
KURT GUTMANN, FOUNDER OF FIRM
Kurt Gutmann, 89, founder and former owner of Kurt Gutmann Jewelry Inc., died Nov. 28. Gurmann earned his jeweler apprenticeship at Giuseppe Knoll in Germany. After WWII, he moved to the United States to begin importing German and Italian gold jewelry. His firm recently marked its 50th anniversary.
ELIZABETH BARTLETT BAYANIHAN, PRESIDENT
Elizabeth A. Bartlett, president of Bayanihan Ltd., died Oct. 2 from heart disease at her home in Harrisburg, Pa. She was 37.
Bartlett joined Bayanihan in 1984 as vice president of sales and marketing. In 1990, she became president and part owner of the company after the death of Bayanihan founder W. Thomas Burns.
Lauren I. Burns, Bartlett’s partner and widow of W. Thomas Burns, will take over management of the company. She notes, “Beth promoted the advancement of the silver manufacturing and design industry enthusiastically during her years with Bayanihan.”
ROBERT KREMENTZ, RETIRED CHAIRMAN
Robert Middleton Krementz, 84, died Nov. 15 on Hilton Head Island, S.C. When he retired in 1974, he was chairman of Krementz & Co. Manufacturing Jewelers in Newark, N.J. Active in the jewelry industry, he had served as president of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths of America. He also was an ardent supporter of The Newark Museum and past president and chairman of the board.
Other deaths:
Shelby E. “Bob” Aloway, a retired watchmaker and jeweler from Abbeville, Tenn., died Nov. 4. He was 75.
Albert E. Bishop, 83, of Holyoke, Mass., died Oct. 7. He was a retired watchmaker and retail jeweler.
Lois Franklin Eddlemon died Oct. 4 in Dresden, Tenn. She was a retired jewelry store owner.
Jane Oliver Cole, 77, a long-time employee of Carter Jewelers in Jackson, Miss., died Sept. 19.
Georgia Newman Galbraith, 76, retired owner and operator of a jewelry and gift shop in Henderson, Miss., died Sept. 16.
Jong Sun Kim, 49, a jeweler in Tempe, Ariz., died Sept. 26.
Richard J. Mott, 75, a retired jeweler from Mesa, Ariz., died Nov. 1.