The Coast Guard has identified seven people who were aboard the fishing vessel Lily Jean when it sank off Gloucester, Mass., on Jan. 30. An emergency beacon alerted crews about 25 miles off Cape Ann; rescuers found one person unresponsive and an empty life raft. Search efforts were suspended on Jan. 31 and the missing are presumed dead. A Feb. 1 memorial brought the community together, and a multi-month investigation with NTSB assistance is ongoing.
Seven Identified After Fishing Vessel Lily Jean Sinks Off Gloucester; Community Mourns
Flowers rest at the Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial on Jan. 31 after the US Coast Guard called off a search for the Lily Jean, a Gloucester fishing vessel which had 7 crew members aboard.Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty
The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the seven people who were aboard the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean when it sank off Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Jan. 30. The loss has deeply affected the local fishing community and prompted a memorial service to honor the victims.
What happened
Crews were alerted just before 7 a.m. local time on Jan. 30 when the boat’s emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) activated about 25 miles off Cape Ann. Rescue teams later found one person unresponsive in the water and recovered an empty life raft associated with the vessel.
After extensive search-and-rescue operations, the Coast Guard announced on Jan. 31 that the search was suspended, saying all "reasonable" efforts had been exhausted. The remaining people aboard are presumed dead.
Victims identified
- Captain Accursio 'Gus' Sanfilippo
- NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt, 22
- Crew member Paul Beal Sr.
- Crew member Paul Beal Jr.
- Crew member John Rousanidis, 33
- Crew member Freeman Short
- Crew member Sean Therrien
Voices from the community
Friends and relatives described the crew as dedicated seafarers. Captain Sebastian Noto, a longtime friend of Sanfilippo, said he last spoke with him around 3 a.m. the morning of the sinking and recalled Sanfilippo telling him, "I quit. It's too cold." Noto said Sanfilippo sounded calm and had complained that the cold was unbearable because "the air holes was freezing." Noto added that the two men often worked together and relied on one another.
Family members remembered the others lost: John Rousanidis was described by his sister as generous and joyful; he loved the sea, fishing and boxing and had worked aboard the Lily Jean for about a year and a half. The University of Vermont confirmed that Jada Samitt had recently graduated; relatives said she had moved from Virginia to study environmental biology and was passionate about animals and the ocean.
Memorial and reaction
A memorial service was held on Feb. 1 at Saint Ann Church in Gloucester, where community members shared stories and expressed grief. Christian Rodolosi, who fished with Paul Beal Sr. for 35 years, said the loss will leave a lasting impact on the community. Retired fisherman Domenic Dimaio, who attended school with Sanfilippo, said he remained in shock and reflected on the sudden risks of the fishing life: "Things can change quickly. It's just a hard life."
Investigation
The Coast Guard said an investigation into the sinking is underway, will take several months to complete, and will include assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Officials have not yet released any additional details about the cause of the sinking.
If you have information relevant to the investigation or tips about the incident, contact the U.S. Coast Guard or local authorities.
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