Peggy Blassingame Diamant
Peggy Blassingame Diamant, 81, daughter of one of Anna Maria Island’s first families, died at her Anna Maria home March 10. She was born Margaret Mary Hillegas in Philadelphia on Christmas Day 1929.
She moved to the Island in 1936 with her parents, Gertrude and Wyatt Blassingame. Gertie became one of Anna Maria Island’s most prominent real estate marketers and Wyatt was one of the Island’s best-known writers.
She attended Anna Maria School when it was a one-room schoolhouse. She discovered her love of acting at Bradenton High School and graduated in 1947. She studied liberal arts at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, before moving to New York in 1949, where she pursued a career in theater. She worked for Dumont Television Studios and appeared in summer stock in Connecticut, where she met Bill Diamant, the company’s stage manager. As an apprentice in summer stock, Peggy worked with established stage and film stars, including Shirley Booth and John Loder. A fellow apprentice was John Cassavetes.
She married Mr. Diamant in New York in 1951, and the first of five children was born in 1952. A son was born the following year at Manatee Hospital, delivered by Anna Maria physician Dr. John Huth. In 1954, the family moved first to France and then to Germany, where Bill worked for U.S. Army Special Services Entertainment and Peggy performed in musicals and plays. Two more daughters were born during a decade of travel throughout Europe.
The family came back to Anna Maria Island briefly before moving to Atlanta in 1964. Three years later, they moved to Seoul, South Korea, where Bill again worked as an entertainment director for the Army.
Mrs. Diamant then began a new chapter in her life.
She became a medical assistant at the 121st Evacuation Hospital (MASH) in Seoul.
When the family moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., she worked at the Army hospital. The family moved back to Germany in 1977 and she worked four years at the U.S. Army Medical Clinic, where one physician wrote: “She has had no formal training in nursing but has a summa cum laude degree in the school of experience.”
Mrs. Diamant completed an emergency medical technician course through the City College of Chicago, European (German) branch, and began work as an emergency room assistant.
On return to the United States in 1983, she worked for a family practice before becoming executive director of the Arthritis Foundation of Northeast Alabama. For more than 20 years and throughout the 1990s, she continued to volunteer for the American Red Cross.
In 1998, the couple returned to Anna Maria, where Peggy continued her volunteer career at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society.
Bill died in November 2010.
The public is welcome at a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
Mrs. Diamant is survived by five children, daughters Kathi and husband Byron LaDue of San Diego, Trudi of Anna Maria, Natanya of Austin, Texas, and Lori and husband Arif Abdulla of Bradenton; son Gregg and wife Peggy of Frisco, Texas, daughters; sister, April Blassingame Lane of Edenton, N.C.; sister-in-law Glorie Levinson of Charlotte, N.C.; 10 grandchildren, including Nathan in Japan, Heather in Mexico, Martin in China, Mary Lou in Sarasota, Kevin and Billy in Texas, and twins Ryan and Regan, born Feb. 2 at Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton; two great-grandchildren, Sydney and Zoey of Sarasota; cousin Les Scott of Washington, D.C.; nieces Kinnan Schline and April Oden and their families; nephews Peter and Drew Levinson and Wyatt Lane, and many friends all over the world.
Terrance ‘Terry’ L. Gritzmacher
Terrance “Terry” L. Gritzmacher, 62, of Holmes Beach, died March 5. He was born July 24, 1948, near St. Paul, Minn., He came to Anna Maria Island in 2000 from St. Paul.
Mr. Gritzmacher served in the U.S. Army and retired after 29 years with St. Paul Police Department.
He was a member of the Anna Maria Island Privateers with the name “Whistler.” He served in the Privateers as a lieutenant and navigator and was liaison to the Anna Maria City Pier Centennial Committee.
A memorial service was to be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Holmes Beach, and a private service was held by the Privateers.
Mr. Gritzmacher is survived by wife Diane; children Heather Vickery, Kelly and Ryan; brothers Mike, Steve and Jeff; two grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.
I was so saddened to learn of the passing of Peggy Diamant. I had the honor and privilege of working for Peggy’s husband, Bill Diamant when he was the Chief of all Morale, Welfare and Recreation Services in Fulda, Germany. Peggy with the military communities shining star! She was one of the most beautiful, talented people I have ever known. Both these magnificent people improved the quality of life and morale for all the Soldiers, family members and civilians stationed overseas. I had tremendous admiration and respect for all they did for people. I reconnected with them this past year and now they both have passed away. I will cherish their memory and the wonderful times we had together and will never forget the positive impact these wonderful people had on my life!