The jewelry industry lost several important and well-regarded members in 2020. Click through to read about a few of them. (Our list is by no means exhaustive.) Edward Kahn Kahn, of estate jewelry company House of Kahn, died at age 103. CBS Chicago reported that Kahn was one of the oldest Holocaust survivors. Andrew Meyer A plane crash claimed the life of Andrew Meyer, owner of Continental Wholesale Diamonds in Tampa, FL, in March. The crash of Meyer’s Cessna 310, which he was piloting, occurred near Charleston, SC. Randy Flatau Flatau, a jeweler in Beaumont, TX, died of COVID-19. He was 70. Flatau ran Randy’s Fine Jewelry for decades. Leila Tai Tai, a jewelry designer, passed away on April 2 after a 10-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. Robert Sears Siragusa Siragusa, a watch and jewelry industry veteran, died of COVID-19. He was known for establishing Maurice Lacroix USA in the early 1990s. After leaving the brand, he helped launch Beaudry Time with designer Michael Beaudry. In the mid-80s, he founded Aurion International, a jewelry manufacturer. Roberto Faraone Mennella Mennella, a jewelry designer, died at age 48 after a battle with cancer. His death was announced on Instagram by Amedeo Scognamiglio, with whom he started the Faraone Mennella brand in 2001. Today the brand has stores in Capri, Italy and New York. Yupadee Kobkulboonsiri Yupadee Kobkulboonsiri, a jewelry designer and artist, died of COVID-19. She was 51. The New York Times wrote that Kobkulboonsiri created “fantastical” jewelry, such as “neck cuffs with silver springs ending in pearls that looked like asteroids” and “necklaces that looped over a shoulder and erupted in diamonds and pearls.” Roger Gesswein Gesswein, CEO of the Paul H. Gesswein Co., was 77. He passed away July 31 of lymphoma. Gesswein was a former president and chairperson of the 24 Karat Club. Nancy Brewer Brewer, a former member of the Gemological Institute of America Board of Governors and notable jewelry manufacturer, died in early August. Her jewelry design firm, Nancy B. & Co., was known as “a premier destination for gold earrings and colored stone jewelry designed for working women.” Lecil Henderson Henderson, a well-known jewelry designer who founded Henderson Collection by Lecil in Charlotte, NC, died at age 62. Frank Kumor Kumor, a jeweler in Bellevue, NE, died after a bout with COVID-19. He was 71. Fran Zimniuch The entire team at SmartWork Media was heartbroken to announce the passing of our long-time team member and friend, Fran Zimniuch, on Dec. 17. Fran died of COVID-19 complications. As East Coast sales manager for INSTORE, Fran was a pillar of SmartWork Media, having started with the company in 2004. 1 | 13 Previous Jewelers Shine a Light on Distinctive Fixtures in Stores Up Next Art & Soul Infuses Jewelry Gallery With Fine Art and Creativity Photo Gallery 2020 Jewelry Industry Obituaries: Farewell to the Ones We Lost The jewelry industry lost several important and well-regarded members in 2020. Click through to read about a few of them. (Our list is by no means exhaustive.) Advertisement