The Moss Haven Moms group came together more than 20 years ago as a way for moms within the Moss Haven Elementary boundaries to get acquainted. These days, email allows any communication to be broadcast to the entire group.

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Typical subject lines read: “Security Alert” (neighborhood-watch info), “Lost Dog”, “Found Dog” or “Painter Recommendation”.

On a Thursday morning this past November, Moss Haven Moms making a routine email check were surprised when they opened a message with the subject line “Romina Mulloy and Family”. The message, from Ashley Gomez, broke the news that a member of the group, along with her husband, Michael Levine, and 5-year-old son, Ariel, had perished the night before in a house fire.

The news set off a flurry of texts and emails among the moms. Some had known Romina, and some recognized her name only from the email list.

Everyone asked: “Is there anything we can do?”

By the next day, Kellee Kelton had set up a meal calendar for volunteers to provide meals for Romina’s mother, starting immediately.

The following Monday night, Jennifer Eckert hosted a meeting at her home where the women organized their efforts. At the family’s request, Betty Reagan put together a slide show of family pictures, set to music, which she completed in time for funeral services later in the week. Romina’s uncle, Denny Mulloy, needed help organizing rides for relatives arriving at the airport; in response, Eckert asked for volunteers with SUVs and mini-vans.

Skye MacLaren coordinated thank-you dinners for the firefighters at the three stations that responded (Station 28 on Greenville, Station 29 on Shadow, and Station 57 on Audelia). Highland Park Café donated turkey, ham and salad. The Moss Haven Moms provided additional sides.

The day the news of the fire first circulated, the Moss Haven Moms began collecting cash donations, although it wasn’t clear where the cash might be needed. Soon Romina’s friends and family decided to set up a fund in her honor through the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association to award scholarships to young Hispanic women. The moms’ cash donations had found their purpose.

Sadly, Romina Mulloy will be missed by Julius Dorsey Elementary School, because her employer (Baker Botts LLP in Dallas) had adopted the school as a community project, with Romina as liaison. In Romina’s honor, Moss Haven Mom Jill Schuler headed up a book drive for the Dorsey Elementary Library. At press time, she had collected 50 children’s books along with cash donations.

“It’s amazing, because this is a tough time of year,” Schuler says. “When people can’t give cash, they can give a book. The response has been great.”

Inevitably, the tragedy brought fire safety to the forefront of all of our minds. In response, Jeryn and Jay Laengrich hosted a fire safety and prevention event in their home just 10 days after the fire. They provided food and drink, and Dallas Fire & Rescue brought an ambulance and fire truck for kids to view and explore. Immediately after the meeting, Susan Clot de Broissia sent notes out to the whole group.

Although most of us believe we are prepared for a fire, Clot de Broissia states in her notes, a few simple improvements can make a difference. For example, a phone should be kept in each sleeping room. (The Mulloy-Levine fire was not reported to 911 by the family, but by a resident in a nearby apartment complex who saw the flames.) Plan multiple evacuation routes, and designate a family meet-up spot so firefighters will not have to enter the home looking for missing family members. Make sure electric breaker boxes are up to date and safe. (At press time, the Mulloy-Levine fire was believed to have been an electrical fire that began in the downstairs study.)

I have always known that the Moss Haven Moms group is a great organization for keeping in touch with neighborhood news and networking. I am in awe of the support and generosity that helped bring us together during a time of shared sadness. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and family of a wonderful Moss Haven Mom: Romina Mulloy.