SPOKANE, Wash. — The second co-founder and publisher of Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine has died from COVID-19 nearly one month after his wife lost her battle with the virus.
The magazine announced Wednesday that Vince Bozzi, who co-founded the magazine and Bozzi Media with his wife Emily, died of COVID-19. Emily Bozzi passed away on Dec. 10, 2020.
"As incomprehensible as it has been over the last four weeks to wrap our minds around the loss of our co-publisher Emily Bozzi, we are numbingly devastated to share that our founder and publisher Vincent Bozzi has also lost his valiant battle with Covid-19," the magazine said in a Facebook post.
"Vince was a titan, someone who was fulfilled beyond measure in his work to honor others, to highlight the very best of our region, to ruffle up the status quo and encourage original thought, and to live life to the fullest," the post continues. "He loved hosting and attending events, clinking glasses and relishing in the joy of sharing space and laughter with friends as much as he enjoyed taking in the arts, attending concerts and plays, dining at every locally owned restaurant, and hiking around our region and breathing in the fresh PNW air as he discovered a gorgeous viewpoint.
Vince leaves behind his son, Jordan, and sisters Julie, Angie, Cecilia and Shirley, along with other members of his extended family, according to the post.
He was placed on a ventilator on Dec. 18, 2020, according to updates on a GoFundMe campaign set up to help the Bozzi family with unexpected expenses. The organizer announced about a week later that his kidneys were failing.
Vince's wife, Emily, loses battle with virus nearly one month prior
The magazine previously shared news of Emily Bozzi's passing in a Facebook post on December 10. Vince was hospitalized with COVID-19 at the time of his wife's death.
"This news is incomprehensible to everyone close to the Bozzis: to their son Jordan, to their family, to friends, to our team and community members," the Facebook post reads in part. "We ask that you please respect the privacy of their family at this time. As we find our bearings, we will share ways to support Vince and Jordan. Please keep them in your prayers as they grieve Emily’s sudden, devastating loss, and as Vince recovers from the virus."
Emily Bozzi was a "pillar of Bozzi Media" and the Spokane community for more than 20 years, the Facebook post reads.
Charlie Brewer is the co-founder of a local non-profit, Beyond Pink, that helps educate and provide access to life-saving technology to detect breast cancer.
She said Bozzi was a force for good in the community whose work helped so many people and non-profits in the region. The news of her death was shocking, Brewer added.
"I still sat there waiting for somebody to correct the wrong news for pretty much a whole day," Brewer said. "Because I just assumed it could not…it couldn’t happen to someone so healthy and vital and impactful and I think we all think that. I think that our whole community is sitting in a form of denial. Its sobering.”
Cards or letters of support can be sent to the Bozzi Media offices at 157 S. Howard St., Ste. 603, Spokane, WA 99201. The magazine said on Facebook that it plans to share how it will memorialize and celebrate the lives of Vince and Emily.