Joshua Diamond: Friend, example, Aggie family member

Joshua Diamond was leaving home for work when he died in a car accident on Dec. 30 in Sardine Canyon. A 23-year-old senior at Utah State University, Diamond had the appearance of an average college student — but only the appearance.

“At first glance, he just looks like a normal college kid,” said senior Sierra Woolston, a close friend of Diamond’s, “but if you pay attention I promise you would have noticed him doing kind things for people.”

Diamond didn’t stand out from the crowd, Woolston said, but he preferred it that way. His first thought was for other people and making them feel included.

“The coolest thing about Josh is that he didn’t care about attention or awards,” said Michael Scott Peters, a long-time friend and neighbor to Diamond. “Some people are all into the publicity or the fame, but Josh is very genuine.”

In 2010, Diamond came to Utah State for the engineering program, but he stayed for the social life and the outdoors. Early on, he changed his major to Management Information Systems, and he was expected to graduate in Dec. 2016.

“His favorite thing was how interactive the campus was, and he loved getting involved with stuff and the social aspect,” Woolston said. “He just liked being involved with his friends — it could be in his element or out of his comfort zone.”

Diamond loved attending school sporting events — particularly football and rugby — where he supported his friend, Scott Worsham. He was also an athlete himself. Peters competed in track with Diamond in high school.

“He wasn’t a quitter. He was doing hurdles, and he was coming into first place. Then he fell and got all scraped up,” Peters said. “He got up and ended up finishing, then he went to the team and apologized. He was always thinking of other people.”

When it came to academics, Worsham said Diamond didn’t love school, but he worked hard and cared about his studies. He was also handy, and he would ride his handmade longboard to class.

“He comes off as kind of shy,” Woolston said. “He kind of seems like a reserved person, but the second you go up and talk to him, he’d talk your ear off for an hour.”

When he wasn’t in school, Diamond was mountain biking, skiing, rock-climbing, organizing movie marathons, having fires in the canyon — anything with friends.

“He loved Taylor Swift, of course. He has posters, and he’s confident in his love for Taylor Swift,” Woolston said. “He’s really funny — a playful, goofy guy.”

One of the last activities Diamond did in Logan was sled Old Main Hill with Woolston, her sister and a couple other friends.

Diamond could carry a conversation with anyone about anything, Woolston said, and he knew random facts about everything — that was, in part, helped him relate to so many people.

Peters said Diamond’s funeral was well-attended — many of his school teachers, former track teammates and fellow USU students came to express their condolences.

“He had a very wide influence,” Peters said.

Diamond’s sister, Brooke, organized a fundraiser through YouCaring. As of Jan. 9, almost $7,000 had been raised, $8,000 short of the goal. More than 100 people have donated, some of whom shared their favorite memories of him.

Seth Sheely, Diamond’s roommate, wrote, “Josh was a great roommate. I appreciated how was easy to get along with. He was a pleasant surprise to come home to. Some roommates induce stress. Some alleviate it. He alleviated it. Congratulations on having an honorable son. I appreciate his presence.”

Kimberly Diamond-Smith said he was a “loving family member” and a “wonderful human being.”

An anonymous donor wrote, “I did not know Joshua, but for some reason I am deeply affected by the news of this accident and of this loss. It’s not much but I hope you feel some comfort from strangers like me reaching out at this time. I give in honor of all the USU students I know, especially those who called him a friend.”

Woolston said a message Diamond would have liked to share would be “to not be so caught up in yourselves and what’s going on in your own life, but open your eyes and your comfort zone. Work on friends and relationships, because that’s what’s really important. And family is what comes first. Life is about your loved ones and how you treat people.”

Diamond demonstrated his compassion even after death, when he donated his organs and tissue. His small stature made his organs a good fit for children, and the Diamond family has already been hearing back from recipients of Josh’s gift.

“He never expected anything in return,” Woolston said. “He was really, really supportive… He kind of did things behind the scenes. He was very aware of other people, just serving others.”

When she was moving apartments during finals week, Woolston said Diamond showed up to move her stuff into his car and to the new apartment. When their friends said they were hungry, he bought a pizza for them.

“If you had a bad day, he would let you come talk to him and sit on the couch for hours, not thinking of his own time at all,” she said.

Diamond has two siblings attending Utah State — Brooke, 22, and Robbie, 19. He is also survived by his twin brother, Jason, and his parents, Natalie and Wayne.

“He was very close to family. Especially at the funeral, you could just see how much they loved each other,” Peters said.

Their family motto is “Diamonds are forever,” Peters said. As active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family believes they will be united with Josh after death. At the funeral, they encouraged everyone to remember his example and think of others.

“A good motto for his life is making a difference, one person at a time,” Peters said.

— brennakelly818@gmail.com