MOURNING A LIFE CUT SHORT
Hundreds gather to remember former San Jose resident killed in Las Vegas shooting
SAN JOSE >> Months before a gunman felled her and dozens of others at an outdoor country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip, former San Jose resident Michelle Vo sat down with her husband to hammer out exactly what she wanted done in the event of her untimely death.
Perhaps it had something to do with her work as a top saleswoman for New York Life Insurance in Southern California. Being “prepared for everything” was just part of her nature, Tomo Swendsen said Friday night as hundreds gathered to pay tribute to his wife at San Jose City Hall.
“She was clear to say that she wanted to make sure people knew her story and that she found a mission to help people,” Swendsen said. “And she was clear that if they could do anything in her honor it would be to help a person in need and to help their own family take care of those types of things so that if there is ever a tragic loss they’re ready.”
Vo, 32, was one of 58 people killed Oct. 1 when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival from his room on the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Authorities have yet to pinpoint what motivated him to carry out what’s being called the worst mass shooting in United States history.
Organized in part by her brother-in-law Paul Warren, of Campbell, the vigil also fulfilled Vo’s wish that loved ones be given a platform to share a story or memory in celebration of her life.
Nhan Nguyen, who worked with her at New York Life Insurance, reflected on Vo’s innate ability to lift the spirits of others, whether through a gentle tap on the shoulder or some kind words.
“She has touched so many lives,” Nguyen said. “I’m pretty sure she’s in heaven with the angels right now.”
Vo grew up in San Jose and graduated from Independence High School. She went on to attend UC Davis, where she met Swendsen. (The two were separated at the time of her death.) She worked as an executive assistant to the marketing directors at Synopsys and RichRelevance before moving to Southern California to work in New York Life’s Pasadena office.
Warren’s uncles Patrick Warren and Ralph Kai drove from the Sacramento area to attend the vigil.
“When she walked into a room, you knew the most special person had walked into the room,” Warren said. “She was just a wonderful young girl whose life was taken way too early, and it’s just very sad.”
Kai said the family’s grief has been compounded by the fact that authorities have yet to release Vo’s body.
“We know that there’s 57 other families in the same situation,” Kai said. “It makes it really hard. We didn’t forecast in those hours looking for her that there would be a delay in trying to get her back.”
But seeing so many people turn out for Vo’s vigil provided some measure of healing for her family.
“I’m speechless,” said Swendsen, holding back tears. “It feels better for sure.”