The ABC television affiliate in Lancaster, Pa., is mourning the death of Soni Dimond, a beloved television reporter and morning show host who passed away on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest on Dec. 27.
Dimond, 67, a self-described “Queenager” who most recently was host of a morning show segment called “Vibrant Living,” was remembered by her colleagues at WHTM abc27 as a charismatic, energetic and glamorous presence.
She began her career as an intern in 1978, when the station was known as WTPA-TV 27.
A year later, Dimond was hired as the station’s first weekend news anchor.
When she wasn’t anchoring the weekend news, Dimond filed hard news and feature reports for the station.
In the 1980s, she left television news and founded her own fashion and lifestyle businesses.
Her public relations firm, Soni Dimond Media, was bestowed the Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania Award in 2003.
In 2018, Dimon returned to the station on a part-time basis to host a lifestyle show called “Good Day PA.” She also headlined a segment called “Vibrant Living” for seniors.
“This was her idea to host a segment called ‘Vibrant Living’ because that’s how she was living — vibrantly,” said “Good Day PA” host Amy Kehm.
Kehm grew emotional as she told WHTM abc27 that “I’m a better person for meeting Soni and there’s a reason she had the last name that she did because we all want to shine bright like a Soni Dimond.”
She is survived by her husband, Kevin Martorana.
