Diana "Asabi" Aird

Diana Roberts Aird (affectionately known as “Asabi”), age 73, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away at home on August 12th 2021 due to natural causes.

Diana was born on November 19th 1947 in Colón, Panamá  to Anesta Miller and Altyman Roberts Sr.  She was soon after adopted by Mrs. Maria Roberts after her birth.
After relocating to Brooklyn, New York with her family as a young adolescent, Diana attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn where she excelled as a soprano singer in the school chorus.  She was often featured in many concerts where she could express her true love for singing.  She obtained a B.S. Degree in Marketing & Business Education from New York University, with a special emphasis on Management, Sales and Communication.

During her 40+ year professional career, Diana acquired extensive knowledge and experience pertaining to a broad spectrum of business operations.  Her clientele represented many industries, including: sports, entertainment, tourism,  hospitality, conventions, business development as well as corporate and government arenas.

Diana was President of Aird & Associates and Caribbean Delights Productions, a theme party planning/catering/events business. She was Editor/Publisher of the LVCVA’s (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s) first Ethnic Destination & Visitors Guide (a bi-annual magazine).  She also created and coordinated the first annual Black Heritage Weekend Festival called “Fruits of Africa”, a journey through the Black Diaspora.
She previously worked a variety of jobs in New York and San Diego before establishing her roots in Las Vegas.  She worked in the fields of Special Events Planning & Coordination, Public Relations and Publicity, Marketing & Business Development (specializing in ethnic marketing programs), Direct Mail, Creative Concepts & Designs, Feature Film & Video Production Services as well as Educational Programs.

Diana was VERY active in the Southern Nevada community, having been affiliated with numerous professional, civic and cultural organizations such as:  The National Association of Black Journalists and treasurer for its Las Vegas Chapter, The Greater Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, The Nevada Black Chamber of Commerce, The Latin Chamber of Commerce The Nevada Minority Purchasing Council, The Las Vegas Ad Club, The Society of Professional Journalists, National Association of Female Executives, Women in Convention Sales Association (WCSA), the Small Business Administration’s S.C.O.R.E. group as an A.C.E. member, the Allied Arts Council and the SIMBA Talent Development Center ~ to name a few!  She was truly a maverick and a trail blazer.

Diana is preceded in death by her parents Altyman Roberts Sr. and Maria Roberts-Castillo, her brother Altyman Roberts Jr. and her grandson Tafari Gonzalez-Aird.

She is survived by her daughter Leah Justine Aird, her granddaughter Trinity Gonzalez-Aird, her sister Isabel Sampson-Mapp, her sister-in-law Judith Knight, as well as several nieces and nephews and a host of devoted friends.

Rest in Eternal Peace Asabi… XO

https://lasvegassun.com/news/1997/mar/21/black-cultures-explored/

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