Former Oshawa mayor was ‘formidable force’
Nancy Diamond’s death at 76 ‘a great loss’ for the city she spent two decades serving
With the death of regional councillor and former mayor Nancy Diamond, Oshawa has lost a veteran politician who spent more than two decades in public service and countless hours supporting community groups.
“I think the community is stronger and better because of her and what she was able to do for Oshawa and the region and it will be a great loss,” Oshawa Mayor John Henry said.
He said Diamond was working at city hall on Friday when she went home feeling unwell. Councillor Dan Carter drove her to the Oshawa hospital where her health deteriorated and she was taken to a Toronto hospital.
Diamond died shortly before midnight Sunday. She was 76.
“I kind of expected to see her bounce back from this because she was strong and determined and unfortunately that didn’t happen and I really want to express my thoughts are with her daughter and grandchildren,” Henry said.
Born in 1941, Diamond was first elected to regional council in 1988 and served until 1991 when she was elected mayor of Oshawa. She served as mayor until 2003 and then returned to politics in 2010 winning the highest number of votes among all councillors in Oshawa.
Diamond was a strong and wellrespected voice at both the regional and city council tables, serving as the chair of Oshawa’s finance committee at the time of her death. She was known for keeping an eye on the budget bottom line and advocating for health care, seniors issues and for local autoworkers.
Henry described her as a mentor and said she was intelligent and always well-prepared.
At the time of her death, Diamond was also the city’s deputy mayor, a position appointed at Henry’s request. “She took her job seriously, she always had a smile,” he said. “I think all members of council are better at their jobs because of the wisdom that she carried.”
Diamond had a history of community involvement. She earned the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for her community work. She was an honorary director of Friends of Second Marsh, an honorary member of the Durham Children’s Aid Society, an honorary president of the IODE Golden Jubilee, a member of the Oshawa Optimist Club, Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres board and she regularly delivered meals with Councillor Bob Chapman through Community Care Durham’s Meals on Wheels program.
“Nancy was just Nancy, when you saw her laughing at the council meetings, that’s what you would see here during the day, she was here pretty much every day. Every once in a while you’d hear her go to the cottage to spend some time with her daughter and grandsons,” Henry said.
On Monday, condolences began to pour in.
“Councillor Diamond was a formidable force in municipal politics,” Regional Chairman Roger Anderson said. “She was a strong female leader at a time when it was less common to see women in senior public-service roles. She also led many local community endeavours and will be truly missed.”
Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster shared the news at a Clarington council meeting.
“It is so very sad,” he said. “Our thoughts go firstly to her family but also to the City of Oshawa and Durham Region.”
Funeral details have not been announced.
Diamond is survived by her daughter, Suzie, and two grandsons. Her husband, Fred, died in 2011.