Diana Stein

DIANA STEIN Diana Stein passed away at home on July 3, 2018 at the age of 91. Her life was enriched by the wonders of books, art and music and as an intrepid bookseller on the Santa Fe Trail, on the Old Town Plaza of Las Vegas, NM for more than fifty years. Originally hailing from the East, Diana came West and never looked back. She made New Mexico home in 1955 and settled in Las Vegas joining her husband, Joe Stein, who started La Galeria de Los Artesanos, as an art gallery on Moreno Street, in 1949. The Steins became specialists in Western Americana, in-and-out of print, with book customers from near and far seeking them out. At heart, Diana was an archivist whose correspondence with writers, historians, publishers, customers and the business records of the workings of an independent bookstore were donated to the Museum of New Mexico, Palace of the Governors, Fray Angelico Chavez History Library in 2004. Diana believed the architecture of the old buildings in Las Vegas worthy of saving and was a vocal voice for their preservation and renovation. Their own historic building that housed Los Artesanos, located at 220 N. Plaza, was once the law office of Louis C. Ilfeld built in 1921. They revitalized it maintaining its historic fabric beginning in the mid 1970's. Diana kept the bookshop going after Joe's passing in 2000, until she and the shop retired in 2005. Diana moved to Grants, on the Route 66 Mother Road, to share her older daughter, Sari's home for the past thirteen years. Daughter, Liz Higgins, lives in Las Cruces and visits Grants frequently. Diana did not wish a service, funeral, or memorial and was cremated. Libraries were significant in nurturing Diana's love of history, books and literature from a young age which continued throughout her lifetime. Remembrance of Diana may be made as a donation to your local library, museum, preservation or Main Street group. Cards may be sent to Sari Stein, PO Box 1322, Grants, NM 87020, to share with Liz and her two grown sons and five grandchildren.