JOHN DIAMANTE

1940 - 2021

DIAMANTE JOHN MATTHEW DIAMANTE On Tuesday, February 2, 2021, of Silver Spring, MD. Beloved husband of Donna Diamante and loving stepfather to Andrea Dickerson and step-grandfather to Cooper Mattox. John was born January 14, 1940 in the Bronx, NY. His parents, Elizabeth Dekan and Matthew Diamante, were both first-generation Americans. His father was an elevator operator at the Majestic in New York City. John secured a place at the prestigious Stuyvesant High School and graduated third in his class. He attended New York University on scholarships and grants, earning his Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering and his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics. His technical accomplishments in the private sector addressed some of the most pressing global environmental issues. He brought his experience to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Ocean Service, where he served for nearly 14 years in a variety of positions, including science advisory positions with the NOS Chief Scientist and the NOAA Associate Administrator. In NOAA's Office of Atmospheric Research and the NOAA Climate Office, his research helped lay the groundwork for the National Global Change Research Program. In 1990, John joined the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of International Activities as Chief Scientific Advisor. Over the next 17 years, he helped shape the Agency's agenda on global climate change research and concerns about human and ecological impacts of global and regional climate change. He was the leader of the OIA Caribbean Program, but soon became involved with international concerns about the serious state of nuclear waste management in the Russian Arctic. John was part of the inter-office team effort involved in the "Murmansk Project" which assisted Russia with the management of low-level liquid radioactive waste from the decommissioning of Russia's nuclear missile submarine fleet. This effort ultimately led to Russia's formal renunciation of ocean dumping under the London Convention and earned John and his team members EPA silver and gold medals. Calling John a "world class scientist," the EPA Assistant Administrator acknowledged with gratitude John's retirement in 2007 after 30 years of "distinguished service to the Environmental Protection Agency, United States of America and the global environment." John had many interests - history, politics, psychology, Eastern philosophy. He and his wife Donna were together 43 years and shared a love of travel, the arts and, not least, their much loved dogs over the years: Maurice, Sophie, Tigerlily and Daisy. He treasured his friends and was valued by them for his intelligence, insight, loyalty and humor. Interment private. Please visit the John Matthew Diamante tribute page at www.collinsfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PetConnect Rescue at www.petconnectrescue.org.Interment private. Please visit the John Matthew Diamante tribute page at www.collinsfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PetConnect Rescue at www.petconnectrescue.org.