Hanover, N.H. —
At the age of 32, with three small children, Estelle began a 10-year scholarly journey to achieve a B.A. in English. By diligently studying late into the night, she graduated from SUNY Binghamton the same year that her oldest daughter completed high school. After her divorce from Milton Goldberger, she went on to receive her M.A. in English and completed twenty years successfully teaching English Language Arts at Vestal High School. Here, she introduced the concept of feminist studies and with a colleague, developed her outstanding curriculum, “Teaching in the Nuclear Age”, for which she received an “Exemplary Teaching Award” in 1985. During this time, Estelle was also a lecturer of English at SUNY Binghamton, and a mentor and supervising teacher to new educators. She continued teaching, beyond the classroom and into her living room, leading lively and thought provoking discussions on literature, politics and ethics. After moving to Hanover, NH in 1994, Estelle taught interdisciplinary humanities courses at Dartmouth College’s Iliad for Lifelong Learners, focusing her scholarly endeavors on the works of Philip Roth.
Estelle’s political activism was a strong thread running through all areas of her life. In 1962, she became a founding member of the William Moore Chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). She brought her teenage daughters to civil rights demonstrations, modeling for them that becoming a young adult meant taking responsibility for making the world a better place. She began her letter writing to the local newspapers, always advocating for political action, citizen rights and environmental protection. In 1984 she began a chapter of Educators for Social Responsibility and in 1987, she married her political action to public service by running for, and winning, a legislative seat for Broome County, N.Y. She was named “Legislator of the Year” for her outstanding efforts on behalf of her constituents. These efforts included helping to improve housing opportunities, childcare and health services for working families and opposing environmentally unsound decisions affecting the county’s infrastructure. In 1994, she again ran successfully for Grafton County Representative to the NH House of Representatives. While serving, she became one of the first legislators to vocally support gay rights, openly sharing her experience as the mother of a lesbian daughter. In that same year, her name was inscribed on the Seneca Falls, NY National Women’s Hall of Fame. They honored her with these words, “Estelle Diamond will be remembered as a woman of great moral strength.”
Estelle’s eye for beauty was reflected in her aesthetically warm and inviting home, which was filled with the beautiful antique quilts that she collected. For four decades, until her sight became compromised, she collected, repaired, researched and lectured on original American quilts. She taught others all she knew about the vast cultural wealth women have contributed to American fabric arts through the creation of these quilts. To be in her home was to be surrounded by rich colors, intellectual conversations and delightful gourmet food.
In her last five years, as a resident of Hanover’s Wheelock Terrace, Estelle recognized the needs that residents have for cultural stimulation She organized and taught courses, which included “End of Life”, “Tell Me Your Story”, Reading Circles”, and finally “Tap Dancing”. Thus, Estelle’s experiences as an outstanding educator came full circle, having created learning services for those aged 3 to 103.
Estelle leaves three daughters, Janet Goldberger of White River Junction. Vt. and her partner, Alfred Balch of Lyme, N.H., along with Janet’s children, Leah Cream, M.D. and her husband Joseph J. Drabick, M.D. of Palmyra, Pa., and their children, Jonas Cream, Cady Cream and Lexi Drabick, as well as Ms. Goldberger’s two sons, Adam von Reyn of Somerville, Mass. and Alex von Reyn of New York City, N.Y. She leaves her daughter, Jesse Mavro Diamond and her spouse, Annie O’Connell of Somerville, Mass., and Annie’s children, Eben LaCasse of Mayaguez, P.R. and Kirsten LaCasse of Walnut Creek, Calif. She leaves her youngest daughter, Margaret Goldberger and spouse, Rob Grant of Sarasota, Fla. and their daughter, Emily Grant. Estelle’s circle of beloved family and friends is very large. She will be missed and will continue to be loved by them all.
Estelle Diamond died on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, the holiday of Sukkot, a Jewish celebration of the Harvest gathering. There is no more fitting conclusion to punctuate a life so fully, so richly, so lovingly lived.
Services for Estelle Diamond will be held on Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. at the Dartmouth College Roth Center for Jewish Life, 5 Occum Ridge, Hanover.
In Estelle’s memory, donations may be made to: Binghamton University Foundation, PO Box 6005, Binghamton, NY 13902-6005. Gifts will be allocated to a scholarship granted to women returning to higher education.