The peaceful rhythm of New Bedford’s working waterfront was shaken late last week when 51‑year‑old shipyard worker Jason Vasquez was found dead in the cold waters of New Bedford Harbor, not far from the vessel he spent his days working on. What began as a routine disappearance ended in a heartbreaking discovery that has left coworkers and the local community grieving.
Vasquez, known to many on the docks simply as Tex, was last seen on January 28, enjoying time after work. When he didn’t show up the next day and his coworkers grew worried, his boss reported him missing on January 30 after finding his truck parked at the New Bedford Shipyard and Shoreline, where he was employed.
The worry turned into a full‑scale search involving the New Bedford Police Department’s Marine Unit and local authorities. In the early hours of January 31, officers found Vasquez’s body in the frigid harbor waters, a short distance from the vessel he had been working on just days before. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Local law enforcement and the Massachusetts State Police are continuing their investigation into the drowning, though early indications suggest there were no signs of foul play. The Bristol County District Attorney’s office is assisting with efforts to understand exactly what happened in those final moments.
For those who knew Jason “Tex” Vasquez, the news landed with the weight of a familiar voice suddenly gone. On the waterfront, he wasn’t just another name; he was part of the daily rhythm of life by the water. Coworkers describe a reliable presence—someone who showed up every day, did his job, and became part of a community that knew the turns of the tide as well as they knew each other’s faces.
People who worked alongside him talk about how tight‑knit the dock community feels, where loss isn’t just a headline but a real absence: an empty spot on the dock where someone used to stand, a familiar face that no longer appears at morning roll call. That quiet hole left behind is being felt by many here.
Friends and colleagues have shared their condolences with Vasquez’s family, offering thoughts and support in a time of deep sorrow. They remember a hardworking man whose presence was steady and whose absence now leaves a palpable void.
In the days ahead, investigators will comb through the details surrounding his last known movements and the circumstances of his disappearance. For now, the New Bedford community mourns a neighbor and a friend—Tex, whose laughter and work were woven into the fabric of the harbor he loved.
