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John James "Jay" Steiner Jr.,62, co-founder of Lumberjack Building Materials and co-owner of Diamond Home Improvement Centers, Grants Pass and Klamath Falls, Or., died Aug. 30 in Sacramento, Ca., after a long battle with cancer.

After graduating from Santa Clara University in 196'7, Mr. Steiner began working in the family business, Birdwell Lumber, Sacramento. The next year, he joined with his father, uncle, and family friend Ellery Ferson to found Lumberjack. The chain had grown to seven locations throughout California by the time they sold it to Payless Cashways for $26.2 million in January 1983.

A year later, contractually barred from opening another home center in California, Mr. Steiner and his brother Tim formed Supply One, Reno, Nv., which expanded to four stores in Nevada and five in Oregon. After liquidating the bankrupt chain in 200 l, the brothers purchased two of its Oregon facilities and opened Diamond Home Improvement as a joint venture with Pacific Coast Building Products, Sacramento.

Jere Patton Giomi, 86. retired owner of Ace Hardware, Yerington, Nv., died Aug. 25 in Reno, Nv.

Mrs. Giomi and her husband, John, moved to Yerington in 1912, where they operated the Ace store until retiring in 1997. Mr. Giomi died in 2000.

Gunmen Strike Berkeley Ace

Three suspects have been arrested on suspicion of armed robbery of an Ace Hardware store in downtown

Berkeley, Ca., after tying up several employees and making off with $450 and assorted merchandise-includine gloves, dish towels, potholders, and ai oven mitt. Alerted by a store manager, police spotted the getaway car and arrested the trio three minutes later.

"It was a shock to me, but I think it's actually brought us closer together," said co-owner James Caroenter. whose grandmother bought the store 62 years ago. He said two of the employees have returned to work and the third is recovering at home.

Police said the robbery began when the three employees were closing for the day and were approached by three men who had been lying in wait inside the store. The suspects ordered the employees into a manager's office, where two of the workers were gagged and bound. One suspect pointed a gun at the third employee and ordered her to open a safe. She didn't know the code, so she called a manager, who did not pick up. The suspects then attacked the safe with crowbars, axes and hammers from the store's shelves. to no avail. After tying up the third employee, one suspect hit her in the head with a hammer before the robbers fled.

After freeing themselves with a small knife, the employees were then taken to the scene of the arrest and positively identified the suspects.

Todd