GIA Recognizes Leaders at League of Honor Dinner

A record-breaking crowd of more than 560 guests joined GIA at the 2003 League of Honor Dinner Oct. 20 to recognize those who contributed $100,000 or more to the Institute. Fifteen philanthropists were inducted during the annual event in New York City.

Guests received a copy of GIA’s history book, Legacy of Leadership: A History of the Gemological Institute of America by William George  Shuster, which made its debut at the dinner.

One of GIA’s pioneering leaders, G. Robert Crowningshield, retired vice president of the GIA Gem Laboratory, was also honored for his more than 50 years of service to the gem and jewelry industry. In recognition of his contributions, the more than $148,000 raised from the dinner will benefit the newly created G. Robert Crowningshield Research Fund.

The League of Honor medallion was awarded to 15 members of the gem and
jewelry industry for their gifts to GIA. William George Shuster (back row, from left),
Sheldon Kwiat, Jacques Roisen, David Kwiat, Lowell Kwiat, Toros Kejejian and
Rajiv P. Mehta. Toros Z. Kejejian (front row, from left) Douglas Kazanjian,
Susan Fortgang, Ph.D., Ruth Fortunoff Cooper, Esther Fortunoff Greene,
Dr. Edward J. Gübelin and Koichi Takahashi.

A record-breaking crowd of more than 560 guests attended the 2003 League of Honor
Dinner to celebrate the philanthropic support of their peers.

GIA President William E. Boyajian applauds the 2003 League of Honor inductees for
their support of the Institute's nonprofit mission.

G. Robert Crowningshield was honored at the dinner
for his lifetime contributions to the gem and jewelry
industry. He is pictures with Kathryn Kimmel, vice
president of Marketing and Public Relations for GIA.

Catharine and Matt Stuller, Stuller, Inc. (seated, from left), Moshe Leviev, LLD Diamonds Ltd.; and
Shmuel Schnitzer, M. Schnitzer & Co. (standing) Elliot Tannenbaum, partner at Schachter & Namdar;
and Martin Rapaport, Rapaport Group of Companies.

Dinner sponsors Glenn and Susan Rothman of Hearts On Fire
attended the event. Glenn was inducted into the League of
Honor in 2000; Susan is scheduled to be inducted in 2004
for sponsoring the 2003 dinner.