The World Federation of Diamond Bourses released a memo expressing its condolence over the death of Wolfgang Gross, Honorary president of the Diamantklub Wien (Diamond Club of Vienna) and an Honorary Delegate to the WFDB. Gross passed away late last month, at the age of 92 years.

He served at the club beginning 1957, and was Vienna's bourse president from 1972 to 1996, for an uninterrupted tenure of 25 years. Consequently, he was appointed Honorary President of the club.

"Wolfgang Gross belonged to the generation who helped rebuild the international diamond business after World War II," said WFDB Secretary General Michael Vaughan. "I don't think that during his presidency, or thereafter, he has missed any of the WFDB congresses and WFDB Presidents Meetings. It was very important to him to assure that the small bourse in Vienna was a full member of that exclusive family of bourses that constitutes the WFDB. 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 said.