John Bligh
- Retired teacher
“Think of yourself as a sunflower — the tallest, biggest and most beautiful flower in the garden,” Renee Diamond counseled a 1st-grader who was being picked on in 1985. “The sunflower,” Renee told her, “gets kissed by the sun first so it will have the energy to watch over all the other flowers in the garden.”
To this day, Florence Trombley, that former 1st-grader who has stayed in touch through the years, remembers every word of her teacher’s advice. “She was my absolute favorite teacher,” Trombley said. “She saw my potential, had faith in me and gave me the confidence to be the person I am today. I have several sunflower tattoos because of that and I proudly stand 6 feet tall.”
Renee, 73, died of coronavirus on May 11.
She began her 25-year career in 1968 as a first-grade teacher at PS 25 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She went on maternity leave in 1975 and resumed her career eight years later at PS 134 in Hollis, Queens, teaching there until her retirement in 2003. She also tutored PS 134 students living in homeless shelters and, in 2004-2005, served as a technical grant facilitator for Districts 16 and 23 in Brooklyn and District 27 in Queens.
During a virtual memorial attended by 160 people on May 17, former students shared memories.
“We loved her,” Cynthia LaBorde said of her class in 1971. “Mrs. Diamond made learning serious and fun. Although she hardly ever raised her voice, on occasion she would calm everything down with her signature ‘Wait a MO-ment!’” At LaBorde’s invitation, Renee returned during her maternity leave to celebrate the class’s 6th-grade graduation.
Over the years, LaBorde stayed in touch through phone calls and notes. “She was what I call one of my tent poles, supporting me through good and bad times,” LaBorde said. “She enriched my life in ways that continue to reveal themselves.”
Tamara Blocker, a member of the 1st-grade class of 1985, visited Renee in the nursing home shortly before she died. As they reminisced, Blocker remembered the time she was afraid to answer a question. “Mrs. Diamond put both palms on my cheeks,” she said, “and told me, ‘Sweetie, you can do it.’”
“Every child loved being in her class,” Blocker said. “They loved her compassionate, loving smile and open arms and knew she valued what they had to say.”
Friend and colleague Judy Cohn remembers Renee as a teacher who was beloved by her students and their families. “Renee always encouraged and supported her students,” Cohn said, “and often told them, ‘If nobody can listen to you read, then read to your mirror.’”
A three-time breast cancer survivor, Renee was a judge for Long Island History Day and a board member for the Hollis Hills Civic Association.
She is survived by her husband Cary, a retired social studies teacher; her daughters, Allison and Melissa Diamond; her grandchildren, Eva, Ruby and Aspen; and a sister, Susan Glaser.
Condolences can be sent to:
Cary Diamond
220-31 Kingsbury Ave.
Oakland Gardens, NY 11364
and:
I worked with Renee Diamond at the Region 5 office. She was a true educator, always spoke from the heart, and such a lovely person! I remember our conversations fondly. I am sending my deepest condolences to her friends and family.
It’s now been almost 4 weeks since ‘My Renee’ left me. What can I say that I haven’t already. She was stunning, loving, smart, independent and my incredible wife of almost 48 years. Wow! Was I a lucky man when I married her almost 48 years ago. She gave me 2 incredible daughters who today are great and very capable mothers. The years after we retired were just wonderful, and we visited such places as Eastern Europe, Israel, Barbados, Costa Rica and California and Mexico. I will never forget the plays that she put on at PS 134Q, and how hard she worked every year to prepare for that first week of school. So my darling, as I mentioned in the eulogy I gave for you, your goodness and essence will always be embedded in my heart for as long as I live. And my love for you will last for all eternity. All my love. Your husband Cary Lloyd.
Renee, my close friend for over 40 years, was a very special person. We taught in the same school for 5 of those years and I got to see what a fantastic teacher she was. Her warm and welcoming manner made every child in her class feel good about themselves. That would extend to the parents and the entire staff as well. You would never hear a negative remark from her about the children in her class, their families, or other members of the staff. Her “positivity“ drew everyone to her. She was a wonderful person and will be forever missed…..forever in my heart .
Renee Diamond was one of the dearest friends I ever had. She never failed to lift my spirits and make for a wonderful day if she was with me. I will never forget her love of life and her kindness and thoughtfulness. Her passing has left a void in my life. I will miss her always.
The ability to successfully instill confidence and resiliency in young children is perhaps the greatest gift you can give them. Renee’s warm and loving personality enabled her to reach out to her pupils and provide them with the essential skills they would later need in all their future endeavors.
She will be sorely missed by her adoring family, friends and all who knew her professionally.
My sister Renee was such a devoted teacher to every student who was lucky to be in her class. Teachers like Renee could not be taught how to teach. She was born to teach. She was kind and affectionate. When times changed and she was told it’s not a good idea to hug her students, her reply was that she can’t do that. First graders need love and affection. She instinctively knew what was best for her “kids” pedagogically and emotionally. After taking care of her own children she would spend hours at night working on lessons for the next day. She was a master at teaching children to read and each year parents requested Renee for their child’s teacher. She was my sister, my best friend, my spiritual link to the family we grew up with. She made this world a better place.
My dear aunt Renee was a beautiful, compassionate, positive, kind, and strong woman. She had a way of making people feel good about themselves and spoke so positively to others. She was an excellent listener who genuinely cared about the person she was speaking to- it always made me feel so special to have a conversation with Aunt Renee. She was full of compliments and positivity and greeted me with a big smile, a huge hug, and lots of kisses accompanied by the sound “Mwah!!”
I remember so fondly our times together – holidays, celebrations, backyard BBQs. She was a wonderful wife to my dear Uncle Cary and a dedicated mother to my adored cousins, Melissa and Allison. She took such pride in her role as a teacher and it was evident how loved she was by her students.
She will be very missed and I will treasure our memories together. May she Rest In Peace and know how much she was loved.
My dear Aunt Renee was loving, kind, strong, beautiful, and compassionate. She was a very positive person who truly listened when others spoke. She made me feel so special when we saw one another- complimenting always and highlighting all the good in life.
I have such beautiful memories of our visits together, usually for holidays or celebrations. She would dress so elegantly and embrace me with a big hug and lots of kisses. She loved her students and it is evident that they loved her intensely. She was a wonderful wife to my dear Uncle Cary and a devoted mother to my adored cousins, Melissa and Allison.
Aunt Renee was a unique woman who I will miss immensely. May she Rest In Peace and know just how much she was loved.
My dear Aunt Renee.
She was a very positive person. An extremely loving person. A person who exuded fortitude and patience.
All of these are in such short supply.
As for her teaching, she spread warmth and earnestness and decency to a lot of kids – kids who came from some very difficult backgrounds. She gave of herself. She made New York, and our world better. I remember asking her about her students. “They’re so cute!” was the invariable reply.
She also was a proud UFT member. I distinctly remember talking with her about this.
Renee was a mom who raised some really spectacular daughters. A loving grandma. And a devoted husband to my dear Uncle Cary, also a retired teacher.
I think even after her passing she also teaches us a lesson about this time we are living in.
Above all she would get on and remain positive. I very much appreciate her. Her memory is a blessing.
I will miss Renee. She was a special person. Bari
Renee and I were best friends for 48 years. She was fun loving, intelligent, funny and compassionate. She was a strong woman who would teach and go for chemotherapy and show up the next day. She was the “Most Alive” friend I had. I can’t believe I will never hear her laugh again. The world was a better place for having Renee in it. May she rest in peace.
Renee was beautiful in and out. Her smile always made me feel as welcome as years ago with my bubby. I will never forget her.
Rest In Peace sweet Renee! You were an amazing inspiration to all who met you.. you’re positive outlook on life and big beautiful smile was contagious. You are truly missed❤️
I can just tell you that I am who I am because of my mother.
I am loving and kind because of my mother
I am honest and trustworthy because of my mother
I am emotional and sensitive because of my mother
I am strong and smart because of my mother
I am creative and artistic because of my mother
I am funny and extroverted because of my mother
I have goals and ambitions because of my mother
I am I because of my mother
There are many times that I have said or done things and then thought to myself, my mother would’ve done that. Or my mother would’ve said that
…and I would laugh to myself.
You are a product of your environment and who raises you, whether you like it or not.
When I tell someone something is “fabulous,” I hear my mother in me.
When I laugh a certain way, I hear her laugh.
When I cry a certain way, I hear her cry
She will always live inside of me. She will always be a part of me.
I will never let my son Aspen forget who she is and how important she was in our lives.
I love and miss you mom. You are forever with me. ❤️
Renee Diamond was an extraordinary, parent, wife, teacher and friend. I worked with her for many years, she was truly a master teacher. She was lovely, and kind and caring. I taught kindergarten and Renee taught first grade. Leaving kindergarten is a very big move, new teacher, new classroom , new floor. The children cried because they were afraid to leave kindergarten. Renee would tell them, Mrs Cohen is really my sister, and so it is OK to come to first grade. The children believed her. It always touched my heart, and I felt, maybe it was true. I miss you Renee, for always