Kent Christopher Diamond, 54, of Redmond departed this life suddenly and unexpectedly on February 19, 2016 after collapsing on a Ka’anapali, Maui golf course. He is survived by his cherished wife, Susan, and his beloved children, Karin and Colin; his mother Diana Diamond (Booker Morey) of Palo Alto, CA; three brothers: Bruce Diamond of Mountain View, CA; Mark (Pat) Diamond of Los Altos, CA; Scott Diamond of Portland, OR; his step-mother Carol Diamond of Menlo Park, CA; his step-siblings Susan (Samuel) Levenberg of Phoenix, AZ; William (Nancy) Bulzoni of Deerfield, IL; Steven (Lisa) Bulzoni of Deerfield, IL; and Ellen (Stephan) Sochoux of Redwood City, CA; his father-in-law Earl Cowley, his sisters-in-law Jeri (Don) Prior and Pat (Dustin) Doyle, all of Redmond; and by many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Diamond, and his mother-in-law, Mary Cowley.
Kent will be remembered for his compassionate common sense, his intelligence and wit, and his engagement in the world around him. But most of all, he will be remembered for his splendid love for his family.
Kent was born in Mountain View February 13, 1962. He graduated from Gunn High School in Palo Alto. He earned a BA from the University of California at Berkeley, double-majoring in economics and computer science. (Go Bears!) He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington’s School of Law.
Kent worked at the Microsoft Corporation as a software engineer and manager. He worked on their operating system software in the US and Japan, and became a manager in the company. He met the love of his life, Susan, at Microsoft, and shortly after they married, they embarked on an extended adventure traversing Africa. They extended their stay to serve with the U.N. in Southern Sudan. Soon after their return, Karin was born and two years later, Colin.
Kent was devoted to his family and took care to create family time and traditions. He opened to them the beauty and the need of the world, taking them on tours of service and adventure on multiple continents. He showed them how to enjoy the world and to meet its needs.
Kent was never one to leave something broken if he could mend it. He lent his time and talents to fix broken machinery, situations, businesses and people. He and his son installed a solar lighting system to provide lights to a Kenyan school, and taught the locals how to keep it running. He provided legal advice through the Union Gospel Mission’s Open Door Legal Services. He was learning how to weld and to rehabilitate broken machinery. He tutored and coached and befriended people and left situations, things and people better than he found them.
Kent was an avid golfer. He coached elementary soccer and Bear Creek School’s high school boys’ and girls’ golf teams. He was a guide and assistant with his son’s Boy Scout Troop.
His children well launched, Kent and Sue set aside a month in Hawaii to reflect on their 25 years together and to consider their opportunities and hopes for the coming years. Kent’s last days were happy and hope-filled, with plans for continued exploration, adventure, and giving.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 5, at 3:00 p.m. at the Bear Creek School’s Commons (in the new high school building). A reception will follow on-site.
Memorial contributions may be made in Kent’s name to the Seattle Union Gospel Mission’s Open Door Legal Services, either online ,here: ugm.org – “Donate”; or sent to this address: 3800 S. Othello Street, Seattle, WA 98118.