Click here to see the text of an article
which appeared in March 2002 in the Washington State Bar Bulletin.
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and a wonderful friend.
 PREFACE Therefore, at the very outset, it is necessary to understand how this book came to be and especially the thoughts behind the title. First of all, it is important to point out that, although this book has been authorized by the Diamond family, it was not initiated or commissioned by Josef or by anyone else in his family. On the contrary, it was a rather considerable challenge to persuade Josef and his lovely wife Muriel to permit the author to even use many of the generous expressions of praise and admiration which their many friends feel and have expressed about Josef. Therefore, so that you might know the facts in this matter, here is a brief background on how this book came into existence. After more than a dozen years of publishing a monthly newsletter for Diamond Parking and writing profile features about many of their key employees, I thought that perhaps we should prepare a special feature article about Josef for the Company newsletter, The Diamond Dialog. When I mentioned this idea to Josef, he graciously invited me to join him for lunch at The Harbor Club to discuss the matter. After a short time and just a small sample of his delightful stories, it became quite clear that it would be impossible to do justice to this extraordinary man in a mere page or two or even several pages in the Company newsletter. Consequently, what started out to be an article for the newsletter soon became a several-year-long research and writing project. It is also important to give credit where credit is certainly due, and acknowledge right up front, that this book really represents the combined writing talents of more than 200 gifted authors and one devoted secretary who had the vision and foresight to compile a Book of Memories comprised of letters from many of Josef's legions of friends, as a surprise for his 85th birthday. Thus, the title of this book truly does reflect the consensus opinion of Josef's uncountable friends. Time and time again, Josef refers to more people than you can imagine as "a good friend of mine" ... And time after time, Josef's friends echo that same sentiment in return, saying what an honor it is to have had the privilege of knowing Josef as: An Honorable Counselor and a Gentle man ... and a friend of mine. Many people of noteworthy achievement are often eager to write their memoirs, or commission someone to do so; so it is worthy of note that not one word in this book has been written by or dictated by Josef himself. Instead, the contents of this book are taken mostly from the hundreds of letters which Josef's friends have written to him and from transcripts of a series of video taped conversations with Josef which Muriel had made for Josef's grandchildren and great-grandchildren Therefore, you can now enjoy knowing Josef Diamond as his Legions of Friends know him, enjoy living many of the fascinating experiences of his life, and also gain valuable insights into the character behind this man who accomplished so much, acquired so much wealth, and gave so much of himself to so many others. May it be that others in the profession to which he dedicated himself so admirably (and in every profession), might accept the challenge to live life as an honorable person, a kind, gentle, and generous person, and as a true friend to legions of friends.
Josef Lowder
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