By Grace Gilson
Karen S. Diamond, a victim of the June 1 firebombing attack at a Boulder, Colorado, rally for Israeli hostages in Gaza, died last Wednesday, June 25, from her wounds. She was 82.
Diamond “died tragically as a result of the severe injuries that she suffered in the attack,” read a statement released by the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.
Diamond was among 13 people who suffered physical injuries in the attack, according to an amended complaint by the district attorney’s office. The suspect in the firebombing attack, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, now faces two counts of murder as a result of Diamond’s death.
Soliman was indicted on 12 hate crime counts last week, and his lawyer entered a not guilty plea for him last Friday. He is accused of trying to kill eight people at the attack on the demonstration, Run for Their Lives, in which he threw two Molotov cocktails at the group.
An Egyptian national, Soliman also faces 118 charges, including 28 counts of attempted murder, in Colorado state court.
Karen Diamond was married to Dr. Louis Diamond, a Baltimore native. Dr. Diamond received his doctoral degree in pharmacology from the University of Maryland and is the dean emeritus of the University of Colorado Department of Clinical Pharmacy.
A Detroit native, Karen Diamond was the daughter of the late Ted and Lillian Sorin. She ran an interior design firm while raising her children. She was active with Boulder’s Congregation Bonai Shalom and served on the board of Hadassah for more than three decades.
“This event and the tragic loss of someone who has given so much of herself over the years to the Bonai community and beyond has impacted us all and we are sad and horrified,” said Bonai Shalom’s Rabbi Marc Soloway in a statement.
“I am devastated to hear of Karen Diamond’s passing,” Colroado Gov. Jared Polis said. “This loss is deeply felt by the Boulder community and our entire state, particularly within our strong Jewish community. My heartfelt condolences go out to her friends and family. Karen was taken from us too soon, and we mourn her loss while remembering her life and the impact she had on those who loved her.”
On social media, Jewish Family Service of Colorado posted, “We mourn the passing of Karen Diamond, a long-term donor and cherished partner of JFS Boulder. Karen tragically lost her life due to injuries sustained in the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack on Pearl Street Mall. JFS extends blessings of love, strength, and comfort to Karen’s family and all who had the immense pleasure of knowing her kind, graceful, and gracious soul.”
Besides her husband, Diamond is survived by her sons, Andrew and Ethan; her daughters-in-law, Elinor and Liz; and her five grandsons, Tycho, Cosmo, Isadore, Herschel and Zelig.
Grace Gilson wrote this article for the JTA global Jewish news source. Jmore thanks local historian Fred Shoken for his contributions to this report.
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