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“He Dedicated His Life To Serving And Protecting Others” – Communities Mourn After Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond
December 26, 2020
Brother. Friend. Father. Grandfather. A heart of gold. Servant.
Those were just some of the words being used Saturday to describe Gary Diamond who was murdered at his home in Molino early Saturday morning.
“He was more than just a man. He dedicated his life to serving and protecting others,” Diamond’s son Joseph Diamond said.
Diamond was a longtime firefighter, serving during his career as the volunteer chief in Molino, a captain at Navarre Beach and fire service instructor at Pensacola State College.
Related Story: Former Fire Chief Murdered Saturday Morning In Molino; Suspect Arrested After Manhunt
Diamond joined the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 before transferring to Molino. He worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and went on to serve as Molino chief from November 1992 to September 1993. He was currently volunteering as a fleet transport driver for Escambia Fire Rescue, moving fire apparatus around the county as needed.
“I was saddened and heartbroken to hear the news about Gary this morning,” Interim Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Paul Williams said. “He was not only a longtime part of Escambia Fire Rescue, but a longtime friend as well.”
“He was very nice with a very laid back kind of attitude. He was obviously willing to give and volunteer his time, and willing to serve the community,” Williams added.
Diamond was a captain at Navarre Beach Fire Rescue for a decade, retiring to take care of a family member. He recently returned to Navarre Beach Fire, pulling extra shifts as a fill-in captain.
“He worked his way up through the ranks until he retired as captain of C Shift,” Navarre Beach Fire Rescue Chief Danny Fureigh said. “He was an extremely well educated, well seasoned firefighter known throughout the area.”
Fureigh said that Diamond was always there for the department – always around cooking and volunteering at department events.
“He was always there. He and his family were a big part of us,” the Navarre Beach fire chief said. “He never met a stranger, would give you the shirt off his back. He was legitimately a good guy…this is a horrific event.”
Comments
18 Responses to ““He Dedicated His Life To Serving And Protecting Others” – Communities Mourn After Murder Of Former Molino Fire Chief Gary Diamond”
When I see this article, I think of 2 bible verses: John 13:15 and Matthew 5:44. These are the verses I read and posted today. The first person I thought of was Jesus Christ saying them and Gary Diamond responding to them. There is no greater love that a person has than to lay down his or her life for another. When we face adversity in life, we want to run from it but Gary didn’t. He stood for what was right and paid with his life. We will all miss him deeply but we have all of the stored up memories of what a wonderful, loving and caring human being that he was. He truly was a servant of God’s and we all can learn from him. Don’t let his death be for nothing. Let us all try to emulate Gary. Let all of us honor him by being servants as well and by forgiving the person who took his life, so tragically, and let God judge him. Gary would have wanted this from all of us. He would not want us to become bitter and hateful. He just wasn’t that way. You will never forget but you can forgive. If you want forgiveness, you have to also forgive and that was a huge part of who Gary was. I hope I did you proud Gary!! Now, RIP in the arms of your Lord and Savior.
Praying for Gary’s family and his friends we are all at a lost tho is without a doubt one of the hardest things a family can go through we were blessed to have such a young man in our family he will be missed deeply my heart is just breaking his is my friend and Nephew he never had a bad word to say about anyone he didn’t see a person as white or black or red he saw them as human and only wanted to do what he could to help them Love you Gary Diamond RIH my Nephew
I sure hate this happened to Gary, such a great guy. I remember working graveyards and him coming in often, he would hang out and we’d joke around together. Anytime he saw me out in town he would make a point to come chat a moment.
He will be greatly missed, my heart breaks for the family. My prayers are with his family and the community over this huge loss.
This just makes no sense
Gary was loved by all
He left this world protecting others
Cindy and family are in my prayers
I can’t began imagine what they are feeling
RIP Gary we love you
A senseless loss to us all. Firefighters are like the “good guys” gang – once a Firefighter, always a Firefighter. I can’t make it back to the area for final services, I sending my regards and sympathy to his Family and friends. Three bells to your Sir.
Gary was the salt of the earth RIP.
No words, completely in shock when I saw this come across the news.
Cindy, Joe, I can only offer you our thoughts and prayers; Gary was a great guy and will be sorely missed.
Gary will be missed by many I went to school with all of his kids love them all he was a great smart funny guy I can’t imagine how his family are feeling at the moment I hope to God they hang the guy that shot him he was a good dad also
I’m saddened about the loss of our friend and Public Safety Brother, Gary Diamond. I had the pleasure of working with Gary for many years at EMS. He is truly a man of courage and honor. I pray for his family and friends. Know that he now walks with the angels and stands guard from heaven. Rest In Peace my friend. With deep affection and sisterly love , your old friend Karen Farill-Wood.
My heart is broken for his family and for his friends. Gary will be missed but never forgotten. My love and prayers for peace and strength to the family.
Gary Diamond was a wonderful person. My heart is just broken! Praying earnestly for Cindy and their children and all of Gary’s family and friends .
This really makes me angry. Why someone would even want to pull the trigger or even pull a gun on Gary. That man was no harm to no one.may his soul Rest In Peace. He didn’t deserve to go out like that. This hurts, I can only imagine what his wife and kids are feeling. My prayers are with y’all. Gary was one of the best people you could ever meet.
prayers for that family i’ve known Gray’s wife’s family most of my life,and Gary many years, any time you seen him he had a smile.I can’t see for the life of me why anyone would want to hurt him.I am glad they got that piece of crap lock him up and forget him.
RIP Brother we have the watch.
Cindy and the family you are in our thoughts and prayers.
RIP… MY THOUGHTS & PRAYERS ARE WITH CINDY AND HIS CHILDREN.. GRANDCHILDREN
So saddened to hear of this. I live in Molino and grew up with this wife’s family. Gary had a heart of gold. My condolences.
I am so sorry to hear about this. Prayers to his family.
So sorry to hear this news. Praying for the family, friends, and the community.