Russell Henry Dimond, 82, of New Port Richey, Florida, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2022, of natural causes and was surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Russell was born on October 12, 1940, in Worcester, MA, and lived in Middletown, NY for many years before retiring in Florida. The son of the late Herbert Victor Dimond of Staines, England, and Edna Frances Atkinson-Dimond of Troy, NY; Russell was also predeceased by his brothers, Paul Dimond and Edward Dimond, and sister, Eleanor McMahon.

Russell’s parents were lifelong officers in the Salvation Army and frequently moved their family to different towns, mostly throughout the northeast, to fulfill their appointments. Some of Russell’s fondest memories growing up are of the many boyhood adventures he had while living in Asbury Park, NJ. He was also proud to have had one the largest paper routes in Cleveland, OH when he was only 10 years old. Each day he would be up at 4:30 a.m. delivering papers, often with snow up to his kneecaps, before heading to school. After graduating high school in the class of ‘59 from Dwight Morrow School in Englewood NJ, Russell studied photography at the New York Institute of Photography. In his early 20s, Russell worked at a prestigious portrait studio in New York City.

Russell served in the U.S. Navy as a Petty Officer, First Class FTG1 with active duty from 1965 to 1967. He continued his military career as a Navy reservist from 1967 – 1986. Russell worked at the Ford Motor Plant in Mahwah, NJ, from 1964 until it closed in 1980. It was there that he built cars and made some of his closest, life-long friendships. In the early 80s, Russell became a successful, self-taught businessman who, along with his wife Sonia, owned and operated laundromats, a dry cleaning business, and dozens of coin-op laundry services in Upstate New York. Together, the couple established what would be known in the region as the “cleanest coin-op in town.” Russell’s one-of-a-kind advertisements in the local newspaper were filled with edgy, creative humor and became popular within the community.

Russell will also be remembered by many for his friendly, jovial personality, offbeat sense of humor, and inquisitive mind. Raised in a musically talented family, Russell developed a deep appreciation of music early in life and enjoyed listening to music, particularly jazz and classical. He also enjoyed attending Tampa Bay Rays baseball games where he would always have a box of Cracker Jacks on hand to share. He will be remembered, among friends, for the epic theme parties he and his wife Sonia would host in their home every year, as well as for showing movies in their home theater that Russell built from scratch.

Survivors include his wife and partner of 44 years, Sonia Segui-Dimond of New Port Richey; daughters Valerie Dimond of Sarasota, FL, and Leah Dimond of New York, NY; and son David Matthew Alvarado of Grahamsville, NY. He is also survived by three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and his beloved dog, Chester.

Other living relatives include his sister Frances Dimond of Philadelphia, PA; brother-in-law Doug McMahon, Sr. of St. Petersburg, FL; nephews Doug McMahon, Jr. and his wife Robin of St. Petersburg, FL, John McMahon and his wife Dana of Sun City Center, FL, and Victor Dimond of Corpus Christi, Texas; nieces, Mary Semplenski and her husband Tom of Howell, NJ, and Susan Kaczor and her husband, Mark of Mount Gilead, OH; cousins Alice Joyce and Florence Locke of Maine, as well as great nieces and nephews, and other family members.

Russell was a dear husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend who will be deeply missed and warmly remembered by all who knew him. May we meet again one day.