It was her 30th birthday, but she'd been asked to work that night instead of her usual Friday waitress shift. The single mother, a legal secretary, had been working at the club part time since November to earn extra money as she supported herself and her 7-year-old son, Justin.

"It's a terrible loss," said DeMaio's grandfather, Vincent. ". . . He lost her when he needed her most."

When she wasn't working at the club, DeMaio attended night classes at Johnson & Wales University, pursuing a certificate in paralegal affairs. During the day, she worked as a legal secretary at Textron Financial Corp., where she was remembered as ambitious, hard-working, and so well-organized that she could anticipate what her bosses needed before they asked for it.

Co-workers said the rigorous schedule was typical of Dina, who was always striving to make a better life for herself and her son. The company has established a trust fund to benefit Justin.

Co-worker Dawn Brindamour said she had planned to go to The Station to help DeMaio celebrate her birthday on that fateful Thursday, but she and a dozen friends decided to take her out the following night instead.

"It's very difficult. . . ." said Brindamour. "She was extremely outgoing. She definitely had a presence. In a general sense for all of us who knew Dina, she made our lives easier."