Julie Diamond, z”l, passed away at home in the early morning of Aug. 11. Julie leaves behind a family she loved so dearly: her husband, Tom; their two children, Rachael and Melissa; her parents, Mimi and Leonard Lewitt; and brother, Howard Lewitt.

Julie was CEO Emeritus of Oregon Jewish Community Foundation. Julie joined OJCF in 2007 as development director and took the reins of the organization in 2010. During her tenure Julie guided the foundation through unprecedented growth and the creation of transformational programs including LIFE & LEGACY, Endowment Book of Life, Giving Council, Professional Advisors Group and PJ Library Portland. In a letter announcing her retirement effective June 30, 2021, Julie wrote she was continuing treatment for a rare cancer she had been fighting since 2018.

Julie grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. In California, Julie worked in marketing, public relations and branding before joining Jewish Family Service in Sacramento. When Julie and Tom moved to Portland in 2003, her parents followed. Julie worked at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center for a time and their daughters attended Portland Jewish Academy through eighth grade. The family are members of Congregation Neveh Shalom.

The Aug. 12 interment will be for family and most intimate friends only. It will be conducted by Rabbi Eve Posen. This will be followed by a live-stream memorial service at noon. Ons Sunday, Aug. 15, from 3 to 5 pm shiva for  will be held at Congregation Neveh Shalom on the Holzman Plaza.  There will be a short service at 4 pm. 

Gifts in Julie’s memory may be directed to the Julie Diamond Scholarship Fund of OJCF. This is an endowed scholarship fund created by Julie’s friends and colleagues upon her retirement and will support local Jewish students pursuing higher education.