February 4, 2026 — Gloucester, Massachusetts, is deeply mourning the 7 crew members of the Lily Jean, who were killed after the fishing vessel sank off the coast of Massachusetts.
The community is also creating a safety net to support the families left behind.
“Fishing is the most dangerous occupation in the country, and our New England waters are the deadliest,” said President and CEO of Fishing Partnership Support Solutions, J.J. Bartlett.
A new fund has been created specifically for and will be split equally between the families of Captain “Gus” Sanfilipo, Paul Beal, Sr. and his son Paul Beal Jr., John Paul Rousanidis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien and federal fisheries observer Jada Samitt.