By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ANDERSON TWP. - Community leader Alfred H. Wilhelm Sr., a retired executive with Diamond International, died Dec. 22 at Christ Hospital from a heart attack.

The Anderson Township resident was 89.

Mr. Wilhelm was born in Norwood and graduated from Norwood High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Cincinnati in 1935.

Mr. Wilhelm married Dorothy Sippel of Norwood in 1938. His son, Thomas Wilhelm of Brookfield, Conn., said his father was married for 63 years to his lifetime sweetheart.

"His competence and success in his professional life was only exceeded by his integrity and devotion and love for his family," said Mr. Wilhelm.

Beginning his career in accounting and finance in 1935 with the United States Printing and Lithograph Co. in Norwood, he was later promoted to vice president, controller and secretary.

In 1959, he negotiated the merger of three companies, U.S. Printing with the then-Diamond Match and Gardner Board and Carton Co. to form Diamond International Corp. Its products included packaging goods, pulp and paper products, and it had several plants in the Cincinnati area.

He was active in many professional and trade associations of the printing and lithography industries.

Mr. Wilhelm was a past treasurer and elder of Norwood Presbyterian Church and was active in the Norwood YMCA, Norwood Little League, UC Alumni Association and Queen City Club. He was a member of Mount Washington Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include two other sons, Alfred Jr. of Weston, Conn., and Richard of Anderson Township; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

His wife died in January 2002.

Services have been held. Memorials: Alzheimer's Association, 644 Linn St., Cincinnati 45203-1720; the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, 5841 Cedar Lake Road, Suite 204, Minneapolis MN 55416; and the Albert Geselbracht Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 12522, Norwood 45212.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com