Jerry Diamond, 83 of Lexington Park, MD passed away on June 6, 2010 at the National Naval Hospital in Bethesda, MD with his family by his side. Jerry was born July 20, 1926 William Diamond and Blanch (Fingerman) Diamond in Ellenville, New York, who both preceded him in death.

Jerry left high school to support the war effort by joining the U.S. Navy during World War II, but later completed his education. Jerry met Mary Lee Carter who was also serving in the U.S. Navy. They were married on December 16, 1956. They welcomed a daughter, Lisa Jean Diamond soon after their marriage and eight years later a son Barry Harvey Diamond.

Jerry Diamond enlisted in the navy in 1944. He went to boot camp in Sampson, NY and then reported to UNDC-8 Squadron at Corey Field in Pensacola as a plane captain. In 1946 he was sent to Philadelphia to attend catapult and arresting gear school and then reported USS LEYTE CV32 as AMM3. At the time there was no AB rate. He made first class AB on the LEYTE.

In 1950 he went to NATC Patuxent River, MD as catapult captain of the H4 catapult where they did all of the testing of the new jet aircraft that were joining the fleet. In September 1952 he reported aboard SAIPAN and was assigned flight deck petty officer. While in that position he made the World Cruise and in 1956 he was promoted to Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate. He stayed aboard SAIPAN and participated in the hurricane rescue missions in Tampico, Mexico, and British Honduras. In 1958 he once again reported to NATC Patuxent River. He worked on testing of the TC-7 catapult. He qualified as launching officer for deadloads and became leading Chief. In 1959 he reported aboard USS ANTIETAM CVS 36 as flight deck Chief. In 1962 he reported to the Naval Air Test Facility in Lakehurst, NJ and after 20 years of service, he retired from the navy and went to work as a civilian aircraft launching and arresting gear machinist. In 1970 he transferred to Naval Air test Center, Patuxent River, MD and worked on field installation of TC-7 catapult and Mk-7 arresting gear. After a 49 year career of naval and government service, Jerry retired in 1993.

But Jerry simply had catapults in his blood. After his retirement, he went to work for two days a week for a civilian contractor who is the builder of catapults. He worked in the research division. With all of his experience, he was certainly a valued asset to any contractor. How many men can say they had the career Jerry had? His SAIPAN service was right in the middle of his career. He ran the flight deck during the Korean cruise. Not an easy task. And he spent a lifetime in research and development. All of the pilots that are making catapult shots and arrested landings in the fleet today can thank Jerry Diamond, a shipmate of ours from SAIPAN for the more than fifty he spent in catapults and arresting gear.

Jerry was a member of the Jewish Veterans of Foreign War, the Jewish Masonic Order, the Aviation Boatswain Mate Association, and Beth Israel Synagogue. Jerry was active in the local community, politics, and many youth activities. He was fair, kind, and passionate. He felt life had value. Jerry loved animals and his family, both navy and civilian. He will be missed.

Jerry is survived by his wife Mary and two children; Barry Diamond and his friend Christina McCauley of Leonardtown, MD, and Lisa Diamond Bloom and her husband Jay W. Bloom of St. Cloud, MN.

Services were held at Beth Israel Synagogue in Lexington Park, MD and Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. Interment with military honors was held at Evergreen Memorial with Billy Moore, Ben Johnson, Ted Weiner, John Weiner, Jacque LaValle and Phil Sprinkle acting as casket bearers. Reception held at the VFW.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.