Jackie Diamant, a colorful and adventurous longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away March 9. She was 81. Jackie lived all of her life in Southern California, except for two years attending a London boarding school when her family relocated to London in 1937 (her father was studio manager of MGM there). The school cultivated her love of other cultures and solidified her disdain toward conformity, but she was happy to return to Los Angeles in September 1939, just after war was declared. The American embassy told Jackie’s parents that a boat was leaving in four hours for America and that they should be on it. After attending Beverly Hills High School, Jackie entered college at Bucknell but graduated from Los Angeles State in 1951. She married Edward (Ned) Diamant in 1954, and they lived in Redondo Beach and then in the Palisades, Jackie’s hometown for over 50 years. At various points of her life, Jackie was a docent at the L.A. Zoo, a program director at the YMCA, a curator at an art gallery, a school volunteer and an apartment building manager. Her hobbies included bodysurfing, gardening, cooking, anthropology and archaeology. Even though Jackie had very limited eyesight (calling herself ‘Mrs. Magoo’), she never let this limit her interests. No matter what she was engaged in, it sparked her favorite activity: frequent conversations. Jackie took an active role in the community. The Woman’s Club, the Temescal Canyon Association and the local AARP chapter all were passionate causes. Jackie also hosted monthly lectures at her home, inviting experts on subjects as disparate as terrorism and shamanistic healing. She welcomed everyone and every opinion’the more diverse the better. Vivacious and full of humor, Jackie had a warm heart and a generous spirit and was always ready to help a friend. Once, while on a trip to South America with UCLA Extension, she was burdened with an alleged sociopath for a roommate, who was irritating the other members of the party. They tried to petition the roommate off the trip, but Jackie stood up for her. ‘If I can put up with her, so can you,’ she told her fellow travelers. Jackie was determined to enjoy life despite the many physical obstacles she faced. She traveled to over 40 countries (‘My serious traveling began after my divorce in 1975,’ she once told the Palisadian-Post) and never let her deteriorating eyesight get in the way of a new adventure. Whether hot-air ballooning, traveling to Australia just a few years ago, or leading a tour at the zoo, Jackie’s wild, novice attempts at using a cane only added to the experience. She is survived by her sister, Gerry Berns; her nieces and nephews; and many good friends. A celebration of Jackie’s life will be held on Friday, March 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Oak Room, 1035 Swarthmore Ave. The public is invited.
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