PHOTO: Joshua Seal
Our heartfelt condolences to the family of former Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989 member Joshua Seal who was murdered in the mass shooting in Lewiston on Wednesday evening. In a statement to members MSEA write,
"We’re devastated to learn that former MSEA-SEIU member Joshua Seal was among those killed in Lewiston. Joshua, who was deaf, had worked as an education technician III at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf from 2013 to 2020. In his later work for the Pine Tree Society, he interpreted the Maine CDC press briefings during the COVID-19 pandemic into American Sign language. The father of four young children, he was at a corn hole tournament with other deaf friends at the time of the shooting."
Former Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Nirav Shah remembered Seal as a fixture at his COVID briefings with Governor Janet Mills.
"He was an ASL interpreter and the literal voice (and face) of the COVID response for the deaf community in Maine and beyond. He was a consummate professional who helped all of us navigate through a tough period," Shah tweeted. I marveled at his ability to interpret what we were saying at light speed — even my (awful) attempts at humor during dark days. He never missed a beat. He will be forever missed and always remembered as part of Maine’s history. Rest in peace, Josh."