DDC President Jacob Banda Passes Away

Jacob Banda, the president of the New York Diamond Dealers Club (DDC), died Friday night at the age of 62. Banda suffered from a heart condition and was away from the DDC for a few months.

Banda was born in Israel and immigrated to the U.S. in 1964, where he was part of the Hassidic Satmar sect that resides in Kiryas Joel, New York. He started working in the diamond industry as a diamond cutter, later becoming a wholesale diamond dealer specializing in fancy colored goods.

Banda is survived by his wife, 10 children and nearly 40 grandchildren. His funeral was held Saturday night.