Remembering Barbara Diamond, a revered Laguna Beach reporter Barbara Diamond, a former Coastline Pilot writer, reported on the city of Laguna Beach for several decades. (File Photo) Print Over several decades, local journalist Barbara Diamond connected the people of Laguna Beach through her writing. Diamond died in her home on Diamond Street on Feb. 10 at the age of 88. The recurring themes that have emerged since Diamond’s passing indicate how many lives she touched in the community. “Irreplaceable,” “one-of-a-kind,” and “Laguna Beach icon” are just some of the terms used to characterize what she meant to Laguna Beach. “She could have gone anywhere that she wanted to, and she wanted to be in Laguna,” said Shaena Stabler, owner, editor and publisher of Stu News Laguna, where Diamond last worked. “She wanted to report on and support the community through her writing, and she really did give the gift of herself 40 years over because she was super talented, and she chose to stay local.