Rocketry Planet

TORONTO, Ontario CAN — Hillel Diamond, one of the founders of the Canadian Rocket Society in the southern area of the Ontario province, died on Saturday after seven decades of enjoying his life, his family and his hobby.

Diamond with wife, Tova, and their children pose for a family photograph in front of a poster announcing a science fair. Photo: Brian Maged.

The Diamond's operated the Science Shop located at the Yonge Street Arcade in Toronto back in the day. Photo: Brian Maged.

Diamond at the launch controls of the Science Shop's model rocket launches, where he spread a healthy appetite for all things rocketry. Photo: Brian Maged.

Diamond's rocket society has been flying rockets in Canada since 1942 when he and others laid out the club along the lines of the old VfR of Germany, intending to develop rocket technology during the war years and beyond. Diamond served CRS not only as founder but as its president as well, and is accredited as being the person who single-handedly was responsible for legalizing and popularizing the hobby of model rocketry in Canada.

Born May 6, 1925, Diamond was not only a talented violinist as well as a hobby rocketry evangelist, he was also an entrepreneur as well. Together with his wife Tova (Boroditsky)—herself also a talented musician who played the piano—the two ran the Science Shop in the Yonge Street Arcade, at 137 Yonge Street, Toronto.

During his heydey in the 60's and 70's, Diamond was very active in the Canadian Rocket Society, promoting the love of the hobby to people all around Toronto and the surrounding areas. The CRS web site was updated today to eulogize Diamond on its homepage, an action taken by Sigma Rockets' Colin Dow, stating Diamond "was the godfather of rocketry in the Toronto area" during that period.

"He was an inspiration for many," Dow's update on the web site states.

During this period, Diamond also supervised a group of youngsters interested in science at Toronto's Esbe Science Center, contributing greatly to the scientific community, of which wife Tova was lauded as "Canada's greatest environmental scientist."

As the announcement of Diamond's demise spread around the various Canadian newsgroups, email lists and forums, many people shared similar thoughts when it came to the man.

"I first met the man when I was eleven years old, when he introduced me to the hobby," said John LeBlanc in an online posting. "During my teen years he had a profound influence on my life and I have many fond memories of the experiences he provided and the friendships he helped me develop."

Diamond's funeral will be held Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at 1:00PM at Steeles Memorial Chapel, 350 Steeles Avenue West in Toronto. Rocketeers in attendance plan to provide a fitting send-off, complete with a 21-rocket salute.

"He will be missed," said LeBlanc.

Diamond's legacy will continue to live on through the operation of the Canadian Rocketry Society, supporting education and research in the fields of aerospace science. The club operates today as a charter section of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada.

Hillel Diamond was 85 years old.