By Larne Boyles

Institute executives hosted an emotion-filled ceremony to dedicate the newly named William Goldberg Student Lounge at the GIA New York Education Center Jan. 7. Family members of the late diamantaire, including his wife, children and several grandchildren, joined friends and members of the Institute’s Board of Governors for the event.

The naming comes in recognition of a generous financial gift from the William Goldberg Diamond Corporation, which company President Saul Goldberg said his family made to honor his father’s legacy.

“My father is legendary in this industry, and we really wanted to do something special in honor of him,” he said prior to the dedication. “GIA is the foremost organization of our industry and it felt like the right place for his name to be.”

William Goldberg, founder of the William Goldberg Diamond Corporation, died from pancreatic cancer in October 2003. Known for his fervent advocacy of high-quality cut diamonds, he was a longtime friend of the Institute and a personal friend of GIA President William E. Boyajian.

“Bill [Goldberg] was a leader, a passionate personality and a dynamic diamantaire,” Boyajian said during the unveiling ceremony. “There are some people we meet over the years who never leave us. They are remembered for who they were. They are remembered for what they did. And they are remembered for how they made a difference in the lives of others. Bill Goldberg was one such person.”

Touched by Boyajian’s remarks and the kind comments expressed by others, Saul Goldberg said the day’s proceedings reinforced his family’s decision to support GIA.

“The event, the student lounge, the entire place was done with such class – just like my father, who was all about simplicity and class,” he said. “It was great that so much of the family got to be there. Every single member was moved and felt very happy with our decision to pay this great tribute to my father.”