Darrough Blain Diamond

The youngest child of Noel and Lois Wertz Diamond, Darrough was raised in Kankakee, IL, graduating from Kankakee High School in 1959 where he was president of both National Honor Society and Student Council.

In June 1963, he graduated with a B.S. in Communications-Advertising from the College of Media at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. He was a proud member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and through R.O.T.C. was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army-Ordnance Corps. Following graduation, he attended Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management for one year. On August 1, 1964, Darrough married Linda Mann in Glen Ellyn, IL. Together they moved to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, where Darrough served active duty as Information Officer of the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School. Once complete, he and Linda returned to the University of Illinois as graduate students where he earned his M.S. Degree in Communications in October 1967, after which they settled in Wheaton, IL.

Darrough had a significant career in marketing and advertising. Beginning at Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago, he next joined McDonald's as National Advertising Manager, became Director of Foodservice Marketing for Walgreens, and then President and CEO of Arby's Franchise Association in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1980, he joined Wendy's in Dublin, OH as Senior VP of Marketing. Following Wendy's, Darrough opened a consulting firm serving many national clients. He was Senior VP of Marketing and Strategic Planning at Ponderosa Steakhouses from 1987-1989, before relocating to Clearwater, FL in 1993 as VP Marketing for Valpak. He later became Regional Director of Network Professionals and served on the Board of Directors of Evos Food Creations, retiring as Chairman. He lectured at The Ohio State University, the University of South Florida and Eckert College.

Darrough and Linda relocated from Clearwater, FL to First Community Village in Upper Arlington, OH in September 2022 to be close to family. He had steadfast faith, loved meeting people, enjoyed traveling, conversational French, cooking and fine dining, playing bridge and golf. Darrough was a consummate host and storyteller, who had a hearty laugh and a famous bear hug.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law Laura and Robert Stillman of Upper Arlington, OH and Julia and John Cox of McLean, VA and five grandchildren: Mary Lynn and Allison Stillman, and Mathew, Katherine and Emma Cox, sister-in-law Sue Diamond of Flowery Branch, GA and many nephews, nieces, close family and dear friends he loved from coast to coast. He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda, parents, brother Charles Lyle Diamond and sisters Loel Siewert of York, PA and Mary Lee Black of Tucson, AZ and brothers-in-law Bruce Black and LTC (Ret.) Jack R. Siewert.

A celebration of life reception for friends and family will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2024 from 1:30p – 3:30p at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington OH 43221, with a private celebration of life and inurnment with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium in Washington, DC to follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested contributions be made in memory of Darrough B. Diamond to the National Hospice Foundation, 1731 King Street, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22314, www.nationalhospicefoundation.org, or The Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, 9 North Lewis St., P.O. Box 1869, Lexington, VA 24450, www.sigmanu.org/educationalfoundation. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories and condolences.