Among those the jewelry industry lost in 2025 were (top row, left to right) Gina “GiGi” Ferranti,
David Craig Rotenberg, Elie Hannoush, and Pary LeVian, and, pictured in the bottom row from left to right, Juell Kadet, Kelly Newton, Leon “Sacha” Der Calousdian, and Nina Pugliese.
New York—The jewelry industry said goodbye to many beloved leaders, friends, mentors, and colleagues in 2025, including groundbreaking executives and talented jewelry designers.
National Jeweler remembers them below, starting with a beloved jeweler from the South who died in late 2024.
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Kelly Newton, who owned and operated Newton’s Jewelers in Fort Smith, Arkansas, died Dec. 29 at the age of 74. He ran the family-owned store for more than 20 years alongside his wife and three daughters before retiring in 2023. The longtime AGS certified gemologist appraiser was awarded the American Gem Society’s highest honor, the Robert M. Shipley Award, in 2019.
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Henry A. Hänni
Henry A. Hänni, former director of The Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), died Jan. 9 at the age of 80. Known to many as Professor Hänni, he spent more than four decades in the industry, retiring from the lab in 2009. SSEF created a scholarship in his honor last year.
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Lawrence “Larry” LeVian, chairman of Le Vian Corp., died in late January at the age of 73. He joined the family business in 1971 at the age of 20. The LeVian family described him as a leader in the jewelry industry who worked to build a legacy of excellence and integrity and strived to uplift others.
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Harvey Rovinsky (left) with his wife Maddy
Harvey Rovinsky, former owner and president of Bernie Robbins Jewelers, died Jan. 28 at the age of 77. Harvey and his wife Maddy were inducted into National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame in 2022 in the Multi-Store Independent category. They retired in 2024 and gave the business to five longtime employees. The Philadelphia native was remembered by loved ones as a mentor who saw the best in everyone and made people feel like family.
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Willis Ray Cowlishaw, a watchmaker who became a top executive at Zale Corp., died March 16 at the age of 98. The World War II veteran began his career in the jewelry industry as a watchmaker in Oklahoma before joining Zale Corp. A mentor to many over the years, he never quite retired, serving as an industry consultant into the 2000s.
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Pary LeVian, matriarch of the LeVian family, died on April 8 at the age of 96. She was the wife of Le Vian Corp. founder Abdulrahim LeVian and mother of CEO Eddie LeVian. Her family remembered her as a woman dedicated to her faith, family, and service, known for her kindness and hospitality.
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Herman Ginsberg, a third-generation Iowa jeweler, died on April 20 at the age of 99. He spent 70 years behind the jewelry counter of his family business, Ginsberg Jewelers, working alongside his father and brothers. His kindness and wisdom shaped the business and touched countless lives, the retailer said in a memorial post.
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Elias Abdallah Hannoush, founder of Hannoush Jewelers, died on June 15 at the age of 73. The Lebanon native returned to his home country after building his business in the United States from the ground up alongside his wife, Georgette, and his sons, Albert and David. He is remembered as a sharp dresser, a careful listener, and a man of faith.
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Penny Ruston
Panorea “Penny” Ruston, an industry veteran and founder of the Chicago chapter of the Women’s Jewelry Association, died June 20 at the age of 80. She previously held roles at Lagos, Ebel, and Roberto Coin, and is remembered as a “true pioneer in her profession.”
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David Craig Rotenberg, the longtime owner of David Craig Jewelers in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, died June 29 at the age of 79. He retired in 2023 and closed his store after more than four decades in business. Rotenberg was an active member of AGS and an accomplished appraiser who also worked with therapy dogs at a hospital.
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Gina “GiGi” Ferranti of GiGi Ferranti Jewelry died on July 8 at the age of 59. The Brooklyn-based jewelry designer took inspiration from her Italian-American heritage, New York City background, appreciation for architecture, and her love of family. She is remembered as a true artist and a rare talent.
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Philippe Mellier, former CEO of De Beers, died July 8 at the age of 69. The French automotive executive served in the role from 2011 to 2016.
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Michael Hill, founder of his eponymous jewelry company, died July 29 at the age of 86. The New Zealand native founded Michael Hill Jeweller in 1979, which has grown to a chain of more than 280 locations. The entrepreneur and philanthropist was also a talented violinist, setting up an annual violin competition. “He was a true artist, with a keen eye for aesthetics and beauty,” the Michael Hill International Competition said in a statement.
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Michael Barabash, a client relations representative at Verragio, died Aug. 9 at the age of 58. The brand said Barabash was a vital member of its team with a wealth of industry knowledge. He is remembered as a kind soul with a warm smile.
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Legendary diamond trader Maurice Tempelsman died Aug. 23 at the age of 95. He was the former chief executive of diamond distributor and manufacturer Lazare Kaplan International, whose customers included Tiffany & Co. and Cartier. Later in life, Tempelsman was known for his romantic connection to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
----- Rajnikant R. Shah, founder of Real Gems Inc., died in September at the age of 89. Born in Gujarat, India, he trained to be a physician before moving to New York City in 1975. Shah and his brother, Kumar Pal, were “pioneering” suppliers of rough emeralds sourced from Brazil, according to an obituary published by the American Gem Trade Association. He is remembered as a generous man with strong ethics and was a key player in the building of the Jain Center of America, located in Elmhurst, Queens.
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Franceso Trapani, former CEO of Bulgari, died Sept. 10 at the age of 68. A member of the Bulgari family, he took over in 1983 and led the Italian luxury brand for three decades. He took the company public in 1995 and orchestrated its sale to LVMH in 2011. He remained with the company until 2014.
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Nina Pugliese, a longtime employee of Henne Jewelers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died Sept. 25 at the age of 65. She joined the family-owned jeweler in 1978 at 18 years old, working in sales under the late Jack Henne. She rose through the ranks as a top sales associate, a jewelry buyer, and a designer. Pugliese is remembered as a creative and generous woman of faith.
Kit Heath, founder of Kit Heath Jewelry, died on Sept. 26 at the age of 69. The U.K.-based brand was known for its sterling silver jewelry. “Nothing delighted Kit more than to see our jewelry being worn. If you love silver, you love Kit Heath,” the company said in an Instagram post announcing his passing.
Lou-Pierre Bryl Gaudet, a beloved member of the colored gemstone community, died in October. Field gemologist Vincent Pardieu shared the news in an Instagram post. Commenters from the gem and jewelry industries expressed their condolences, with Pardieu remembering him as “the kindest young man I ever took to the field.”
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Leon “Sacha” Der Calousdian, founder of Vahan Jewelry, died Oct. 15 at the age of 85. The U.S. Army veteran and third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling, and sailboat racing.
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Reynold “Ren” Miller, former JCK managing editor, died Oct. 23 at the age of 70. He was a JCK editor for nearly 10 years and a Professional Jeweler editor for more than eight years. Colleague Peggy Jo Donahue remembered his as “a prince of a man” who was a faithful friend and a skilled editor.
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Ann Vitale Glynn, a longtime jewelry marketing and advertising executive, died on Nov. 3 at the age of 64. She was remembered for her deep love of her family and her dynamic personality.
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Chicago jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez, 63, and Luis Angel Alamo, 25, died on Nov. 8 while chasing a man who had just robbed their store at gunpoint. The father-and-son team worked together at Joyeria Angelo’s in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
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Ward Landrigan, former chairman of Verdura and Belperron, died on Nov. 9 at the age of 84. A legend in the industry, Landrigan was also the former head of Sotheby’s U.S. jewelry division, overseeing several historic sales, including the auction of La Peregrina Pearl, gifted by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor. -----
Juell Kadet, former executive vice president of Rogers & Hollands, died Nov. 9 at the age of 96. A pioneer among women in the jewelry industry, she helped to grow the family-owned jewelry in the Chicago area and beyond. She was also a 1994 National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame inductee. Outside of the industry, Kadet was a talented singer who liked to cook and design clothing.
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Margaret “Maggie” Hoisik
Margaret “Maggie” Hoisik, a pearl stringer who worked for luxury jewelry brands, died on Nov. 11 around the age of 89. The New York City native did a work-study program in high school at Tiffany & Co. in the pearl stringing department. She worked with the jeweler for 22 years, then with Cartier for around a decade before starting her own pearl stringing business.
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Steven Merdinger, an accountant who specialized in the diamond and jewelry industries, died on Nov. 15 at the age of 71. He served as the accountant and financial advisor for the World Diamond Council for several years, and also worked with Jewelers for Children. “Steven had a very powerful sense of commitment to our industry and its good reputation, which he showed over and over by devoting time and effort to the work that we do,” said Ronnie VanderLinden, WDC vice president.
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Brian Patrick Gilbertson, former chairman of Gemfields, died on Dec. 17 at the age of 82. The South African mining executive’s career spanned more than 50 years. He helped build up BHP Billiton and cofounded Gemfields. He was a mathematician, scientist, and international industrialist who loved opera, squash, cycling, and the Greek and Roman classics.
