Wayne Diamond, naturopathic specialist

Wayne Diamond, 64, of Ambler, a specialist in naturopathic medicine and psychotherapist who practiced in Chestnut Hill for 27 years, died at home Nov. 30 of myelofibrosis, a disease of the bone marrow.

Dr. Diamond, as his patients knew him, used talk therapy and natural remedies to treat many kinds of ailments. He believed that vitamin and herbal therapy helped the body heal itself, and that nutrition and weight control helped combat disease.

"His first love was psychology, but he learned herbal and natural remedies," said his wife, the former Leslie A. Goldberg. "He was very strong on the mind-body connection to health."

He was born in Overbrook Park and grew up in Wynnefield, taking two buses to attend Central High School, from which he graduated in 1963.

He earned bachelor's degrees in English and psychology from Temple University in 1967, and his master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of London in the late 1960s.

He also earned a certificate in naturopathic medicine from the California College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1983, his wife said.

He appeared on television and radio and offered lectures and workshops on natural medicine.

He never asked a patient to follow any regimen he did not do himself, his wife said.

At 38, he learned he had a rare blood disorder that sapped him physically, but left his mental acuity intact. He sought medical attention and used natural remedies to keep the disease at bay until two months ago, his wife said.

He counseled patients by phone to the end.

Four days before his death, he joined his family for a Thanksgiving meal of orange and strawberry Popsicles, which was all he could eat. He had long since given up sugar.

"Are you sure they're sugar-free?" his wife said he had asked.

He formulated his own vitamin supplements. In 1990, he and his family started Diamond Herpanacine Associates, a Jenkintown company that markets vitamins online.

He lived in various sections of Philadelphia before moving to Ambler in 1992. He and his wife, neighbors in a townhouse complex, struck up a conversation 25 years ago and had been together since. They married at home in 1996.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a stepson, Jay Jacobs; a stepdaughter, Deborah Wagner; two grandchildren; and three sisters.

A memorial gathering will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Abington Friends Meetinghouse, 520 Meetinghouse Rd., Jenkintown.

Memorial donations may be made to Philabundance, 3616 S. Galloway St., Philadelphia 19148.