Press Release

In Memory of Helene Fortunoff

The GIA Board of Governors in an undated photo with Chair Helene Fortunoff (bottom row, center). Top row, standing: William Cottingham, Ralph Destino, Glenn Nord, Nancy Brewer, Roland Naftule. Second row seated: George Rossman, Matt Stuller, Richard T. Liddicoat. Third row seated: Susan Jacques, Anna Martin, Michael Kazanjian. Front row, seated: Sheldon Kwiat, Eli Haas, Helene Fortunoff, William Boyajian and Lee Berg.
The GIA Board of Governors in an undated photo with Chair Helene Fortunoff (bottom row, center). Top row, standing: William Cottingham, Ralph Destino, Glenn Nord, Nancy Brewer, Roland Naftule. Second row seated: George Rossman, Matt Stuller, Richard T. Liddicoat. Third row seated: Susan Jacques, Anna Martin, Michael Kazanjian. Front row, seated: Sheldon Kwiat, Eli Haas, Helene Fortunoff, William Boyajian and Lee Berg.

Industry icon served on the GIA Board of Governors

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Nov. 9, 2021 – The GIA community – more than 3,300 associates around the world and hundreds of thousands of graduates – offers their condolences to the family of industry icon Helene Fortunoff, who passed away earlier this week.
 
“I was fortunate to serve with Helene on the GIA Board of Governors during her time as Chair of the Board,” said Dione Kenyon, Chair of the GIA Board of Governors. “Her experience, wisdom and deep devotion to our industry were crucial to guiding GIA at that time, and she made an invaluable contribution to advancing GIA’s consumer protection mission.”
 
GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques added, “Helene’s legacy will live on, embodied in the memories of many throughout the global gem and jewelry industry who knew and admired her visionary leadership.”
 

GIA Diamond Evaluation Class, NYC, August 1961. Left to right: front row - Al Berger, Harry Ward, Jean Claude River, Helene Fortunoff, George Crevier, Martin Busch. Standing - Harold Smith, William Heitz, Charles Syer, Noel Murphy, Lee Runsdorf, Eunice Miles, Robert Crowningshield, Bert Krashes.
GIA Diamond Evaluation Class, NYC, August 1961. Left to right: front row - Al Berger, Harry Ward, Jean Claude River, Helene Fortunoff, George Crevier, Martin Busch. Standing - Harold Smith, William Heitz, Charles Syer, Noel Murphy, Lee Runsdorf, Eunice Miles, Robert Crowningshield, Bert Krashes.

Jacques continued, “Helene’s business acumen, taste and talent made her a nationally recognized leader in the industry, well beyond the geographic footprint of the Fortunoff retail stores in and around New York City. Those same qualities and her pioneering spirit opened opportunities for generations of women, including me, to bring their diverse voices, talents, passion and leadership to the global gem and jewelry industry.”
 
Mrs. Fortunoff joined the GIA Board of Governors in 1998 and served as Chair from 2005 until her retirement in 2008. She was also a GIA graduate, having taken classes in the 1960s in diamond evaluation and appraisal taught by GIA leaders Eunice Miles, Robert Crowningshield and Bert Krashes. 

About GIA

An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight and, in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which is recognized around the world as the standard for diamond quality.
 
Through research, education, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science and professionalism.