About Us - Bio

Jennifer Diamond, 30, passed away on the evening of July 23, 2002, surrounded by family in her home in Los Angeles, California. A talented and accomplished artist, in the last days of her life she helped form the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 27, 1971, Jennifer was the loving and cherished daughter of Alice and Harvey Diamond. Raised with her brother Matthew in Studio City, California, Jennifer attended Dixie Canyon Elementary School, Milliken Junior High and Grant High School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University, and applied her artistic talent to animation, graphic design and web site projects. A great lover of the arts and children, Jennifer joined both of these passions by providing art classes to young people.

Jennifer gave many gifts to those who loved her, especially in the last two years of her life as she battled appendiceal carcinoma, a rare form of cancer. She will be remembered as a brave and graceful woman whose love for others was truly unending.

Many people have asked us about the symbolic significance of our logo, the dragonfly.

On a day when Alice, Jennifer and I returned home from a day of chemotherapy, Jennifer got out of the car and noticed a dragonfly perched on top of the car's antenna. She reached out gently and the dragonfly went on to her finger. "Mom, Dad, look at this. This is a good omen." Jennifer explained that in some cultures the dragonfly is both a sign of good health and also a messenger. We were all excited. It certainly lifted her spirit and the dragonfly soon became her symbol.

A month after Jennifer passed away, I was driving through Los Angeles feeling very blue. To my shock and surprise a beautiful little dragonfly flew around inside the car and perched itself on the window ledge next to my hand. All the windows were closed, so I didn't know how it actually got into the car. "Jen, is that you?" I asked. The dragonfly's tail wiggled a bit. I moved closer and the dragonfly perched itself on my finger. I had to tell someone about what was happening, so I pulled the car over and called my son Matthew. I told him the story and he said "Dad, put the cell phone next to the dragonfly. If it's Jennifer, I want to talk to her." I did as he asked with some curiousity and heard him say to the dragonfly, "Jennifer, your father's crazy." I started to laugh.

A short time later, Alice was talking to one of Jennifer's nurses. She was also devastated by the loss of Jen and told Alice that a very similar incident had occured to her. While sitting in her car, feeling blue, a dragonfly flew around her head. She felt as if Jen's spirit was there to comfort her.

Soon thereafter, Alice and I were listening to an audio recording of a phone call that a friend made and gave us. It was Jenn speaking and leaving a message to her. The voice was sad and weak. Jen was in the hospital at this time. Hearing her voice, the both of us cried a little. All of a sudden another dragonfly flew into the car and sat near Alice.

In the past two years, we have had many similar experiences. We believe that the dragonfly is Jen's messenger, her sign, to let us know that her spirit is nearby and that she is fine and not to worry.

So we've chosen this symbol to remind us of Jennifer's good heart and spirit. All of which we try to incorporate into our work for the Foundation.

Harvey Diamond