About Us

The Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation (DomHeart21) was founded in 2010 following the tragic and unnecessary death of Dominic Murray. Dominic was an energetic, thriving, happy and seemingly healthy 17 year old – the apple of his mother Melinda’s eye.

Dominic collapsed and died on the basketball court at Farmingdale State College on October 5, 2009 just after having received medical clearance to play college sports. No one knew that Dominic suffered from a congenital heart defect that went undetected by conventional medical clearance standards. Dominic’s death occurred only three years after the loss of his father after a fatal heart attack, at the age of 42.

As a widow and parent who lost her only child, Melinda Murray turned her inconsolable grief into action and made it her life’s mission to stop any other family from losing their child due to a lack of awareness, screening and immediate treatment of such a preventable tragedy. The Foundation trains the public in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), implementing Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) programs, and working to modify legislation related to AED laws and the pre-participation screening of student-athletes.

The Foundation is an alliance partner, and Melinda is a member of the Board of Directors, of Parent Heart Watch, the national voice protecting youth from SCA and SCD.