Memorial Service for Luryier "Pop" Diamond Set for April 12, 2011
On March 10, 2011, beloved former Kamehameha Schools Kapalama teacher and school photographer Luryier “Pop” Diamond passed away quietly at his residence in Arcadia in Honolulu. In accordance with his wishes, Pop was flown back to New York where he was buried with his wife, Tootsie, who predeceased him a number of years ago.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. on all three Kamehameha Schools campuses – in the Bishop Memorial Chapel at Kapalama, in Keopuolani Hale at Maui, and in Keawe Dining Hall at Hawai'i. Visit www.ksbe.edu for details about the services.
In lieu of flowers, visitors are asked to make contributions to the Luryier “Pop” Diamond scholarship fund. Donations, payable to Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation (KAPF), may be made at the service or online at www.pauahi.org/giving, or mailed to KAPF at 567 S. King Street, Suite 160, Honolulu, HI 96813. Please note “Pop Diamond Scholarship” on your contribution. Call (808) 534-3966 with questions.
Pop Diamond’s career at Kamehameha Schools (KS) spanned more than five decades, during which time he created and compiled an historically significant, complete and comprehensive photographic documentation of life at Kamehameha Schools. His first photo assignment for KS was as a freelancer through Camera Hawaii to document the dedication of Konia Hall in 1950. In 1984, Diamond retired at age 70 because a now-abolished federal law mandated it. He was hired back the next day as a consultant to serve as KS photo archivist. In that capacity, he identified, printed and indexed more than 300,000 images of Kamehameha’s history, many of which he took himself.
When he wasn’t huddled in his basement office in Midkiff Learning Center archives, Pop could be found every day at Akahi Dining Hall, collecting lunch tickets, straightening utensils, and sharing a word with students, faculty and guests alike. In 1996, Pop’s many years of selfless dedication and wonderful contributions were recognized with the Order of Ke Ali'i Pauahi Medal, the highest honor bestowed by Kamehameha Schools.
In 2003, Pop marked his 50th year of service to Kamehameha Schools. That same year, Kamehameha Schools Press published the book, “Images of Aloha” – a collection of Pop’s most memorable photographs of the people, places and events of Kamehameha. While supplies last, the publication is available online at a deep discount at www.ksbe.edu/emall. Books will also be available at the Kapalama campus memorial service.
Kamehameha Schools Kapalama president and headmaster Dr. Michael Chun fondly recalls Pop’s legacy to the schools. “Pop created an invaluable photographic history of our school, whether in Midkiff Learning Center or Akahi Dining Hall, Pop is remembered as the white-haired kupuna who set a wonderful example of servant leadership for all of us. Pop will be dearly missed, but as our school librarian Gail Fujimoto reminds us, he is now dancing with Tootsie in God’s good place.”
