LEWISTON, Maine — Megan Vozzella fondly remembers the memories she made with Stephen. The two met when he was living and working in the Boston area, but they kindled a relationship when the two joined a large camping trip near Bar Harbor.
"You could tell there was a little twinkle in each of our eyes," Megan said. "The flirting and the feelings. ... We exchanged phone numbers and emails."
The two spent the next 12 years together and had a daughter. In November 2022, they got married.
But the two never got to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Stephen Vozzella was shot and killed outside Schemengees Bar & Grille on Oct. 25.
That day, 18 people in total were killed along with 13 injured. At Schemengees, four members of Maine's deaf community were killed, including Stephen.
"This past November was really tough to go through," Megan said. "It hit me really hard. There wasn't his giggle or his voice or him around the house. We always teased each other, and had a playful and loving relationship. And every time he left for work, he always said, 'I love you.'"
It's been more than two months since the shooting. An independent investigation has been launched into the alleged missteps in preventing the gunman's actions, along with several of the victims' families speaking out in favor of gun reform and mental health changes.
But Megan Vozzella is choosing to speak out now because only now does she feel ready.
"I wasn't able to focus on anything I was going through. I was getting contacted by news media and decided I wasn't ready to speak out until I felt more confident or had the personal courage to speak out. ... That amount of loss was very difficult," Megan said.
Her attention now focuses on making sure her husband is not forgotten and the deaf community in Maine is honored.
"I was angry, a mix of emotions. ... I was very angry, and when I think about the whole event, it wasn't fair but the additional feeling of, 'I need to know what was going on,' trying to get interpreters and all that stuff," Megan said.
She made the point that the deaf community was left out of media reports, left out of communications from Maine state officials and local law enforcement.
"Some people would have access to that info but as a deaf person, we had to get interpreters. ... It just brought up all these issues to not have the same info as everyone else," Megan said.
Now, Megan looks to the future of raising their children, knowing that while it's hard, they want to do things Stephen likes to relive his memory.
"All I can say is Steven would never like to see people be sad, he was a very compassionate person. He is always in my heart and Maine loves Steve and he was a person that cared so much for everyone, and I just feel very strongly that he will be watching over us."
Megan said she is looking forward to the investigations into the motivations of the gunman, along with alleged missteps by law enforcement and the Army.
She talked about her desire to see more resources for gun reform along with mental health as well. She said it's a layered approach to stopping something like this from happening again.
"No one can hurt him again. He did suffer through the end of his life, and that's a journey I'm going on, but I know he will be with me on that journey," Megan said.