Note from the Manager
From
Forest Hills
Sent
Fri, Aug 18 @ 9:35am
Description
My colleague, Mike Thomas, was one of the victims of the terrible explosion and fire on Rustic Ridge Dr. in Plum.
While I did not know Mike well, he was a fellow manager who I often encountered through meetings, conferences and emails. I found him to be personable and helpful and a skilled and dedicated manager.
Even had I not known him, the deaths of these people who were simply trying to help a couple on the street - both were also victims - shows the value of neighbors in a community but is also devastating in its simplicity and inherent kindness.
I know fellow managers like me feel the loss greatly, including many who, unlike me, were close friends with Mike or who knew Heather Oravitz, one of Mike’s department heads who also perished.
British poet, John Donne, wrote, “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.” And these six individuals, whether we know them or not, are a loss for the community and all of us.
Mike Thomas’s passing has been on my mind these past few days, especially considering the simple, neighborly thing he and the others tried to do. And so I needed to say something and decided to do it here. If anyone feels it is inappropriate to do that here I apologize.
Among many other sources, the Trib has information on how people can help at https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/outpouring-of-support-for-victims-of-plum-house-explosion/
Steve Morus
Borough Manager
This notification was posted by Forest Hills. Forest Hills is solely responsible for this notification and unless specifically indicated, no other community or individual utilizing Savvy Citizen is sponsoring, responsible for, or endorsing this notification.
