Diane Sigel Steinman papers and oral history interview, 1953-2019

Diane Sigel Steinman was born in Aberdeen, Washington in 1955, one of three daughters of Stanley (Buddy) Sigel and Iris Woolfe Sigel. She relates why the family had settled in Grayland, Washington where there were few Jews, (mostly “cranberry bogs and beach”); they lived above the mercantile store owned by Diane’s paternal grandfather. When Diane was an infant, the family moved to Lakewood, WA, south of Tacoma and from early childhood Diane was part of the Tacoma Jewish community of which her parents became active members. Diane was part of the first kindergarten class at Temple Beth El (TBE), the synagogue that resulted from the 1960 merger of Tacoma’s Conservative and Reform congregations, and when TBE built its new building, Diane’s was the first bat mitzvah held there, in 1968; the family’s ties to TBE continue to the present.

Diane liked to hang out at her father’s business in Lakewood, The Duffle Bag, a military surplus store, and from age 10 years old started working there Saturdays; after her Bat Mitzvah she was put on the payroll. In 1977, Diane graduated from Fairhaven College, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, in Business Management. The family business expanded to handle work- and outdoor wear and sporting goods. Eventually, Diane became the store’s business manager and pioneered in this male-dominated field; she was the only woman member on the board of the industry association, World-Wide Distributors.

During her college years Diane spent one quarter in Israel and participated in an archival dig there following graduation. Her mother was active in Hadassah and arranged for Diane on her return to present a slide show at a Hadassah meeting. Thus began her lifelong personal involvement in Hadassah, where she moved up the ranks from Tacoma chapter treasurer and president, to regional president, to national office and membership also on the Hadassah Foundation board. She credits much of her communal commitment to the example set by her parents and her grandparents, Joe and Rose Woolfe, who were ardent Zionists. Though their families had known each other for many years in the Aberdeen area, Diane and her future husband Allan Steinman were introduced to each other as young adults and have been married 39 years. Both are active in Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. She comments on organizational changes over time. In addition to Hadassah, Diane serves on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, which she noted has given her insight into the vastness of the Jewish community; she also chairs Shadhike US., a group empowering girls in India. Allan remains involved with Kline Galland and is on the board of Forterra, advocating sustainability. Diane and Allan now live in Seattle and are active in Temple Beth Am. In 2014 Diane and Allan received the Voices of Humanity Award from the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center.