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- Jan 7, 2009
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Hi PS family!!
Those of you who've followed us for a while might remember how I've spoken of "Sam Spade".
Sam- his real name was Sid- was one of my mentors.
The story:
Sid fought in WWII, in the Philippines.
When he returned home, Sid was accepted as a diamond cutter apprentice.
By 1955, Sid had a job as an assorter/diamond grader for A Jaffe and Sons ( still in existence)- and he'd worked his way up to buyer.
I got to meet Sid as a brash 24 year old in 1981.
I had gotten a job as a driver for Jaffe's top salesman- which was a way to break into sales.
Prior to that, I was a trainee- then diamond grader for Harry Winston- then for M Fabrikant and sons. At the time Fabrikant was the largest loose diamond company in the world ( taking over that spot from Winston).
When I met Sid, he was skeptical- and he tested me.
He gave me a few parcels to work on- assorting and grading.
I passed the test- and Sid and I began a journey that lasted about 40 years.
I stayed at A Jaffe briefly- leaving after 6 months to become a salesman on my own, for a colored stone subsidiary of Jaffe at the time- called Baden and Foss.
Fast forward another 15 years or so to April 1 1998. The day I opened Rock Diamond Corp.
I was supposed to have an investor...but he flaked that day. The guy showed up for the meeting wanting to be partners, except he didn't have the $30k capital he'd promised to get us started and split the company as partners.
That was one of the greatest favors fate would do for me....thankfully the company turned out to be worth a little more than $60k
Anyway- even though I didn't have the funding I thought I needed, I jumped off that cliff- quit my sales job and opened Rock Diamond Corp.
My first stop was Sid- by this time he'd opened his own company- wholesaling diamonds to dealers.
"Sid, can you loan me $30k?"
After he stopped laughing, he made me a different offer.
"I'll give you $50k of loose diamonds on memo ( consignment) and you can pay me sometime over the next 12 months."
Sounded like a plan....
I took the goods over to another buddy/ mentor from my days at Winston, and he purchased about $30k of the stones- as a cash deal.
So I had my starting capital and no partner.
From that day till he stopped working- about 7-8 years back- Sid was one of our main suppliers.
By the time Sid "retired" he was about 90 years old.
Funny, when I met Sid- waaay back at A Jaffe, we all laughed at how old he was- we called him Grampa Munster- to whom he bore a striking resemblance.
But man, Sid really showed how to be productive well into one's '80's. He used to come to our office, and show us goods. Even in his '80's.
Sid lost his beloved wife Evelyn, and moved into an assisted living facility at 90.
We'd speak at least a few times a month. When we spoke a few weeks back, I could tell he was having issues.
We lost Sid Monday- 98 years old.
I'll always miss him.
Those of you who've followed us for a while might remember how I've spoken of "Sam Spade".
Sam- his real name was Sid- was one of my mentors.
The story:
Sid fought in WWII, in the Philippines.
When he returned home, Sid was accepted as a diamond cutter apprentice.
By 1955, Sid had a job as an assorter/diamond grader for A Jaffe and Sons ( still in existence)- and he'd worked his way up to buyer.
I got to meet Sid as a brash 24 year old in 1981.
I had gotten a job as a driver for Jaffe's top salesman- which was a way to break into sales.
Prior to that, I was a trainee- then diamond grader for Harry Winston- then for M Fabrikant and sons. At the time Fabrikant was the largest loose diamond company in the world ( taking over that spot from Winston).
When I met Sid, he was skeptical- and he tested me.
He gave me a few parcels to work on- assorting and grading.
I passed the test- and Sid and I began a journey that lasted about 40 years.
I stayed at A Jaffe briefly- leaving after 6 months to become a salesman on my own, for a colored stone subsidiary of Jaffe at the time- called Baden and Foss.
Fast forward another 15 years or so to April 1 1998. The day I opened Rock Diamond Corp.
I was supposed to have an investor...but he flaked that day. The guy showed up for the meeting wanting to be partners, except he didn't have the $30k capital he'd promised to get us started and split the company as partners.
That was one of the greatest favors fate would do for me....thankfully the company turned out to be worth a little more than $60k
Anyway- even though I didn't have the funding I thought I needed, I jumped off that cliff- quit my sales job and opened Rock Diamond Corp.
My first stop was Sid- by this time he'd opened his own company- wholesaling diamonds to dealers.
"Sid, can you loan me $30k?"
After he stopped laughing, he made me a different offer.
"I'll give you $50k of loose diamonds on memo ( consignment) and you can pay me sometime over the next 12 months."
Sounded like a plan....
I took the goods over to another buddy/ mentor from my days at Winston, and he purchased about $30k of the stones- as a cash deal.
So I had my starting capital and no partner.
From that day till he stopped working- about 7-8 years back- Sid was one of our main suppliers.
By the time Sid "retired" he was about 90 years old.
Funny, when I met Sid- waaay back at A Jaffe, we all laughed at how old he was- we called him Grampa Munster- to whom he bore a striking resemblance.
But man, Sid really showed how to be productive well into one's '80's. He used to come to our office, and show us goods. Even in his '80's.
Sid lost his beloved wife Evelyn, and moved into an assisted living facility at 90.
We'd speak at least a few times a month. When we spoke a few weeks back, I could tell he was having issues.
We lost Sid Monday- 98 years old.
I'll always miss him.
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