'Staten Island Advance' Publisher Dies at 71

By: E&P Staff (AP) Richard E. Diamond, publisher of the Staten Island (N.Y.) Advance and an expert on newsprint whose career spanned more than half a century, died Thursday at his home of cancer. He was 71.

Diamond worked at the Advance for 51 years. He served as its associate publisher, then took over the leadership spot after his uncle and mentor, Samuel I. Newhouse, died in 1979.

Advance Managing Editor William Huus called Diamond ""an old-fashioned newspaperman in the best sense of the word.""

""He valued hard work and loyalty in those who worked for him, and he worked hard for his employees and was loyal to them as well,"" said Huus.

Diamond was known as a hands-on executive, taking responsibility for newsprint operations throughout the 26-newspaper chain of Advance Publications Inc.

He chaired the Newspaper Association of America's newsprint committee and was a peacemaker in debates between the newspaper and newsprint industries.

At the Staten Island Advance, Diamond oversaw several changes in production technology, constructed a 33,000-square-foot press hall, installed new electronic printing presses and launched a Sunday edition.

""We at the Advance believe in Staten Island and its future,"" Diamond told readers on Page 1 the day the new press made its debut. ""We think our community will continue to grow and prosper.""

Diamond spent most of his life on Staten Island and began his newspaper career in 1953, just after graduating from Cornell University. He was trained for newspaper management by Newhouse, who founded Advance Publications.

He was noted for his love of the borough -- right down to his personalized license plates, which read, ""SIA,"" for Staten Island Advance -- and his devotion to his employees, all of whom he knew by name.

""Dick was a kind man and a commanding presence. Above all he was very fair, and he was well respected by his employees,"" said E&P Managing Editor Shawn Moynihan, who worked at the Advance from 1989 to 2001.

Diamond frequently spent long hours at work overseeing most of the details of the Advance's daily production. While talking with employees about operations he would chat with them about their personal lives, birthdays and favorite restaurants. And like many newspaper publishers of his generation, he loved a good cigar.

He was deeply involved with the community and received awards from nearly every Staten Island civic organization. He also helped establish the Newhouse Gallery at Staten Island's Snug Harbor Cultural Center.

Among the survivors is his wife of 40 years, Alice.