Gloucester, MA — Seven Identified Aboard Fishing Vessel Lily Jean When It Sank Off Cape Ann

Gloucester, Massachusetts — John Paul Rousanidis, Sean Therrien, Freeman Short, Captain Gus Sanfilippo, Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., and Jada Samitt. The U.S. Coast Guard has officially identified the seven people who were aboard the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean when it sank in frigid Atlantic waters off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, earlier this week. After an extensive search and rescue operation covering more than 1,000 square miles of ocean, the Coast Guard announced Saturday that all reasonable efforts to find survivors had been exhausted, and the crew is now presumed lost at sea.

The individuals aboard the Lily Jean when it went down about 25 miles offshore were:

• Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a seasoned Gloucester fisherman and widely respected vessel master featured in the History Channel’s Nor’Easter Men series.
• John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody.
• Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody.
• Freeman Short, from the Marshfield/Scituate area.
• Paul Beal Sr., a veteran fisherman from Gloucester.
• Paul Beal Jr., working alongside his father aboard the vessel.
• Jada Samitt, 22, from Virginia, who was aboard as a NOAA fishery observer.

The Lily Jean, a 72-foot groundfish trawler based in Gloucester, sank amid challenging winter conditions that included freezing temperatures and rough seas. The Coast Guard’s search operation was launched Friday morning after the vessel’s emergency position-indicating radio beacon was activated, but no mayday call was received prior to the boat’s disappearance. Rescue teams located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual before suspending the search on Saturday.

The loss has sent shockwaves through Gloucester — one of the nation’s oldest fishing ports — where generations of families have made their livelihoods on the sea. Community leaders, families and fellow mariners have expressed profound grief, remembering the crew for their skill, camaraderie, and deep ties to the local fishing tradition.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the sinking, while tributes and condolences pour in for the families and friends of those lost. This tragedy highlights both the inherent dangers of commercial fishing and the strong bonds shared by those who make their lives on the sea.