The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) paid tribute to its Honorary Life Secretary Mr. Gerson Goldschmidt, who died in Antwerp on Monday, February 8, 2010, at age 89. Mr. Goldschmidt served as Secretary-General of the WFDB, from 1984 to 1986 and from 1990 to 2002, retiring from the WFDB with the title of Honorary Life Secretary. %% "Gerson Goldschmidt was not only a mentor but also a sincere and loyal colleague," said WFDB Secretary General Michael Vaughan ,who succeeded Goldschmidt upon his retirement. "He belonged to that exclusive group of individuals who helped shape the WFDB. As Secretary General, he was responsible for the day to day running of the federation for 16 years, working tirelessly behind the scenes. He embodied the image of a dedicated public official in the diamond industry. On behalf of WFDB President Avi Paz, the WFDB Executive Committee and the WFDB member bourses, we send heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends," Vaughan stated. %% Mr. Goldschmidt was born in Germany and migrated to Belgium before the outbreak of World War II. He has recorded his wartime experiences in a book entitled "Am seidenen Faden (On a Silken Thread)." His career began as a dealer in industrial diamonds, growing into leader of the Belgian diamond sector, where he was vice president and treasurer of the city's rough diamond exchange - Antwerpsche Diamantkring from 1987 to 1999, and president from 1999 to 2003. He also served as a board member at the bourse from 1978 to 1999. Mr. Goldschmidt was member of the WFDB Executive Committee, the International Arbitration Panel, a committee head at the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses, and member of the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses' Permanent Committee for the Settlement of Debts, treasurer of the Industrial Diamond Firms Group at the Antwerp Diamond High Council (HRD), which was the predecessor the current Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). %% He has performed many philanthropic activities and been accolade as Officer of the Belgian Crown Order in 2002, an Officer in the Order of Leopold II in 1996, a Knight in the Order of Leopold in 1983 and a recipient of the Golden Laureate of Labour in 1982.