• Deaf Community Special Edition

Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened (DDHHLD)

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Deaf Community Special Edition

We at the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened (DDHHLD) want to share that there are no words for the tragedy that happened on October 25, 2023. It was a senseless act. We are saddened and devasted by the loss of four Deaf community members and that others were injured and had witnessed this tragedy.      

The Deaf community has been advocating/fighting for communication access and access to services for years and continue to do so. DDHHLD and others are working to make changes related to policies and other things to remove barriers for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. We will work together and continue to push for the necessary changes.

We want to share that resources can be found at www.deafmaine.org and that we are working with others to make changes related to access and resources.

We are with you.

IN LOVING MEMORY

NEVER FORGOTTEN….

Joshua A. Seal

LISBON FALLS – Joshua A. Seal, 36, passed away on Oct. 25, 2023, a victim of the mass shooting in Lewiston.

Josh, the son of Alfred and Michele (Nelson) Seal was born in Portland on Sept. 9, 1987. Josh graduated from Bonny Eagle High School and went on to get his degree in Linguistics with a concentration in ASL-English Interpreting, from the University of Southern Maine.

Josh and his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” (Laptewicz) Seal, first met in preschool, reconnected in high school, and later married. They have been married for almost 14 years and have four children together: Jayson (12), Sephine (9), Jarrod (6), and Jaxton (3). Josh always put his family first, 

from the time he woke the children up and got them ready for school, to the time he cooked dinner for them, played with them, and laid down next to them in their beds.

Josh always looked forward to family gatherings and holidays together and will be immensely missed by not only his wife, their children, and his parents, but also his siblings, Ashley Seal and her fiancé, Nate Hopkins from Gorham, and their newborn daughter, Olivia; Brittney Seal from Bangor; and Colton Seal, his wife, Kelsey, and their two daughters, Elliana and Josie, from Standish; as well as his loving grandparents; aunts, uncles; cousins; and extended family. Josh’s love and laughter will be missed by all.

Josh was the Director of Interpreting Services at Pine Tree Society in Scarborough and a Certified Deaf Interpreter. He interpreted for several press conferences, including the Covid pandemic briefings. Previously, he had worked for MECDHH as an educational technician for seven years. He was a strong advocate for his students, as well as the Deaf community.

Josh was an active guy who loved to travel and experience new things. He was a huge sports lover, rooting for the Patriots, and especially loved playing disc golf with his friends. Josh enjoyed going camping, playing cornhole, going snowmobiling and UTV riding, and enjoyed doing them with his friends and family. One of his fondest memories was going on a cross-country road trip with his family and exploring several beautiful national parks.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Josh’s name may be made to

Camp Dirigo Experience, Pine Tree Camp, 114 Pine Tree Camp Rd.,
Rome, ME 04963

Or navigate to https://pinetreesociety.org/camp-home/ and fill out the online donation form.

William “Billy” Frank Brackett

LEWISTON – William “Billy” Frank Brackett, 48, born in Hamilton, Ohio on Sept. 1, 1975 has died unexpectedly as a result of the mass shootings within the State of Maine on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.

He was a loving husband to Kristina Brackett. Together they have a daughter, Sandra Brackett, who he loved and adored dearly.

He is the son of William and Laura Brackett, of Sabattus, and son-in-law to Christopher and Tina Smith of Brunswick.

Billy was a member of the Deaf Community. He had a love for cornhole and darts, where he was known as the “Silent Giant”. He was playing in a cornhole tournament when his life was taken. Billy loved fishing and hunting and was looking forward to the day he could teach his little girl. Growing up he played basketball where he scored 1000-plus points. He was an outstanding baseball player in the league in Auburn/ Lewiston and recognized as a great goalie in soccer.

Billy is a graduate of Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and attended Gallaudet Prep School for a short time. He was an employee of FedEx ground in Lewiston where he was a package handler.

He is survived by two brothers, Gerald Bentley and William Brackett Jr. along with one sister, Cheryl Horton and husband Bill, as well as sister-in-law, Connie Brackett. Also survived by sister-in-law, Jessica Smith; brother-in-law, Brian Smith and his wife Kristen Smith and their children Hunter and Sophia Smith; grandmother-in-law, Nancy Smith. He has several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles that will miss him dearly.

Within the deaf community he had many dear friends – Richard Morlock, Jay Green, Joey Nappi, Hal Carter, Owen Horr, Scott and Heather Bowden, Mark Grant and Kerri Fitzgerald, Lottie Cassese, Gerry Duguay, Larry Lawrence, and Tina Kelly. Billy was a friend to many and all will miss him tremendously.

A GoFundMe has been established to help Kristina and Sandra navigate through life without their dear husband and father.

Bryan Michael MacFarlane

SOUTH CHINA – Bryan Michael MacFarlane, 41, of South China, Maine was one of the fallen victims in the Lewiston mass shooting.

He loved riding his motorcycle, camping in his trailer, snowmobiling, fishing, RC racing (he won first place at one such event), hanging out with deaf friends, and especially loved his dog named M&Ms (his favorite candy).

Bryan was born in Slidell, La., and grew up in the Greater Portland area and attended the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf from the age of 2, until he graduated with a high school diploma. He lived in Vermont and then in Ohio for some time and in North Carolina briefly before moving back to Maine last summer. Bryan’s greatest life achievement was obtaining his CDL license. He was the first Deaf person to do so in the state of Vermont, one of the very few Deaf people nationwide to obtain such a license. He worked as a truck driver for several years.

Bryan leaves behind his mother, Janette Randazzo (nee Forbes) and stepfather Richard Randazzo of Lewiston; sister, Keri Brooks and her four children, (Lochlan, Kalle, Ansel and Isla) of Dunedin, Fla.; stepbrother, Anthony Randazzo and his wife Michelle of Auburn; stepsister, Renee Randazzo and her daughter, Mel, of Olympia, Wash.; plus, several extended family members.

Bryan was predeceased by his father, William “Bill” MacFarlane.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating towards a trade school scholarship that will be given to Deaf students in his name: http://www.gofund.me/966c3034

Stephen M. Vozzella

SOUTH PARIS – Stephen M. Vozzella, 45, died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, as a result of the mass shooting in Lewiston.

Steve was born in Malden, Massachusetts, on Nov. 18,1977, the son of Albert Vozzella Jr. and Karen Bowen Vozzella. He attended elementary school at Beverly School for the Deaf, and high school at North Shore Vocational School, graduating with the class of 1996.

Steve worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Boston from 1998-2022 and then in Lewiston from 2022 until his passing.

After being together for 14 years and having one daughter, he married Megan Danforth on Nov. 12, 2022.

Steve was a member of the New England Deaf Biker Group, with the Massachusetts Chapter. He loved bowling and was a member of the men’s league at Town Lane Center in Malden from 2007 to 2021 and participated in tournaments all over. He played softball with the National Softball Association for the Deaf until a knee injury forced him to stop playing in 2015. For the last three years, he has enjoyed playing in a corn hole league in Lewiston with several deaf friends. He also loved camping with his family and friends, going ATV riding with friends, and going on road trips with his wife and daughter.

Steve was a huge New England sports fan and loved the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox.

Steve was predeceased by his father, Albert Anthony Vozzella, Jr. and mother, Karen Jill Bowen Vozzella, as well as grandparents Vozzella and grandparents Bowen.

Steve is survived by his wife, Megan Danforth Vozzella; his children, Andrew Vozzella and Bella Vozzella; his twin brother Nicholas Vozzella and partner Christina; brother Anthony Vozzella; sister Jennifer Belmonte and partner Tommy; uncle Robert Vozzella; aunt Candance Bowen; and cousin, Michael Bowen. He is also survived by his in-laws, Bruce and Donna Danforth; sisters-in-law, Carrie Danforth and partner Jasan, and Bethany Danforth and partner Doug; along with many nieces and nephews and his best friends, Christine Chiofilo, Steven Richards-Kretlow and Kyle Curtis. Steven and Kyle were survivors of the mass shooting.

Steve’s presence, humor, and love will be missed by his family and deaf community.

During these difficult times please know we are all in this together and if you need help, please take a look at the Healing Together webpage. https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/lewiston.

We will get through these difficult times by coming together and supporting each other. Our hearts go out to those who were killed, injured and those who were there and witnessed it.

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