A deep chill hung over the Atlantic and over the fishing town of Gloucester this weekend after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank roughly 25 miles off Cape Ann early Friday morning, leaving one confirmed dead and six others missing. Among those aboard were veteran fisherman Captain Gus Sanfilippo and six others whose families are now waiting for answers and grieving a sudden, painful loss.
The U.S. Coast Guard received an emergency beacon signal from the 72-foot Lily Jean at about 6:50 a.m. Friday but never heard a mayday call from the crew. Immediately, helicopters, cutters, and rescue boats were sent out into waters known for brisk winter winds, frigid spray, and unpredictable seas. In more than 24 hours of searching more than 1,000 square miles, crews found a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and the body of one crewmember. No sign of the other six has surfaced, and the Coast Guard on Saturday suspended active search efforts.
Sanfilippo was not just another captain on the water. He was a fifth-generation Gloucester fisherman whose work and crew once appeared on the History Channel’s Nor’Easter Men, a series that showed the everyday hazards of New England’s fishing life. Locals describe him as a mentor, a steady guide, and a beloved member of the tight-knit fishing community.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard when the boat went down: John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody; Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody; Freeman Short, from the Marshfield/Scituate area; Paul Beal Sr. and Paul Beal Jr.; and NOAA observer Jada Samitt, alongside Captain Sanfilippo. Families and friends have since shared heartbreak and memories, painting a picture of hardworking fishermen doing what they loved.
The Coast Guard’s Captain Jamie Frederick called the decision to suspend the search “incredibly difficult,” highlighting the exhaustive efforts made under harsh conditions. Winds, cold sea spray and rough waters made rescue operations dangerous for both the missing crew and the search teams. Officials say all reasonable efforts have been made, though the final chapter of this story remains unwritten as investigators comb through data to determine what went wrong.
In Gloucester, a city with centuries of fishing history, the loss hits hard. The waterfront community knows the risks of the job all too well, yet every tragedy stings deeply. Friends and neighbors have gathered at the Fisherman’s Memorial, laying flowers and sharing stories of lives cut short at sea. Leaders say they will honor the crew by adding their names to the memorial as a reminder of the courage it takes to work on the water.
While the Coast Guard’s rescue mission has ended, the federal investigation continues. Officials will analyze weather reports, vessel communications, equipment records, and witness accounts to shed light on how a seasoned crew could be lost without a call for help. For the families of the Lily Jean, and for Gloucester itself, the focus now turns to remembrance, understanding, and healing.
