Diana Paris Breslav Passes Away

Diana Dorothy Paris Breslav of Tamarac, FL, passed away peacefully with family on January 8, 2021 at University Hospital in Tamarac, FL.

Diana was born January 17, 1943 in Rochester, NY to Dorothy and Walter Paris. Diana

graduated Wheatland-Chili High School in Scottsville, NY in 1960, where she was an

active leader participating in the national honor society, planning social events, and

as yearbook editor.

In 1964, Diana graduated from the State University College at Cortland (now SUNY

Cortland), where she studied English and education, and was a member of the debate

team. Diana loved her sorority sisters at Nu Sigma Chi.

After college, Diana moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, taking a teaching position in secondary

education in Trumbull. Soon after, she met the love of her life, Jon Breslav

and they were married on Aug 21, 1965, in Scottsville, NY. They loved and cared for

each other deeply until his passing in 2012.

Soon after marriage, the couple moved to Stamford, CT, where they had two children,

Alison Breslav Goldberg and Gordon Walter Breslav. In 1974 the family headed west to

Chesterfield, MO near St. Louis where Diana was active raising her family, welcoming

new neighbors and supporting her local community.

In 1981, Diana and the family relocated to South Florida, settling in Coral Springs.

Diana had intended to dabble in teaching by being a substitute teacher. When she

arrived at J.P. Taravella High School as a sub in the fall of 1985, she was informed the

school desperately needed a full time teacher and could she start that week? Diana

jumped at the chance and so began her second teaching career that lasted until 2011.

Diana had a love of literature and especially American literature titles such as To Kill a

Mockingbird and The Scarlet Letter. (No one wore a Hester Prynne Halloween

costume quite like Diana did.)

Through friends in St. Louis, Diana and the family were introduced to what became

their home away from home, Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Diana loved her time there,

sitting on the porch looking out at the hustle and bustle of the harbor as she relaxed

and enjoyed her retirement. But most of all Diana loved spending time with the

friends who became family from Juniper Point.

In between trips to Maine and to visit her family, Diana relentlessly pursued her

passion for remodeling, cooking and the culinary arts, knitting, needlepoint, and

traveling the world with friends and family. Her creations either in the kitchen or

from needlework always brought joy to those she knew and loved.

Diana is predeceased by her loving husband, Jon Breslav and her parents, Dorothy and

Walter Paris. She is survived by her son Gordon Walter Breslav and his wife, Dru

Breslav of Simsbury, CT; her daughter Alison Breslav Goldberg of Palmetto, FL; and her loving

sister Mary Della Paris Orticelli of Vero Beach. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Caroline,

Ben and JR Breslav as well as Ryan and Noah Salomon.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the Coastal Maine Botanical

Gardens, the American Cancer society, or any organization in support of wounded

veterans. The family is planning celebrations of Diana’s life for later this year when

we can all gather safely in Florida and Maine.