In Memory Of William Diamond 1952 - 2015 William Diamond, designer and former partner with Anthony Baratta at Diamond Baratta, died on July 9, 2015, in Chicago at age 63. William Diamond was renowned for working with electrifying colors, and playing with both scale and scope. Diamond retired from Diamond Baratta in 2012. The designer grew up on Long Island, New York, and studied painting at Carnegie Mellon University before dropping out. Mr. Diamond is survived by his sister Leslie Hodes, brother Jeff, stepmother Barbara Diamond and step-siblings Sandi Kimmel and Michael Kimmel.