By Sheila Dassatt
It seems that we are in the midst of troubled times, physically, emotionally, financially during one of the most challenging winters that we have seen in a long time. They say that most circumstances come in seven year cycles. We have been very fortunate to have had fairly mild winters up to now. I have also been very fortunate to be able to communicate through my articles which I hope help to make a difference.
This month, I can’t help but feel that I need to pay respects to the folks that we have lost recently.
Virginia Oliver, “The Lobster Lady” passed at the age of 105 years. She became a legend by tending lobster traps for nearly a century! She raised four children before joining her husband Bill on the boat. She also became the subject of a children’s book and a PBS documentary. In her most recent years, her son was at the helm and did the hauling while Virginia baited and measured. What is amazing about Virginia is the fact that her son was up there in years himself! I have been doing the same thing and can vouch that it is hard work and she is an inspiration to stick with it that long. She will always be recognized and remembered for her love of lobstering.
Another amazing person to be recognized is Isaac Beal, who passed away at the age of 84. He was born on Beals Island and left his mark on the world. He started lobster fishing at the age of 13 and stayed with it until he was 79. He went into his father’s shop and learned wooden boat building. Traditionally, most fishermen go into the shops in the winter to work on gear or work on boats. Isaac was a legend as a wooden boat builder. He and his Dad built the wooden boat “Christopher” in 1976. After his Dad passed, Isaac went on to race Christopher in the Maine Lobster Boat Racing circuit with over 100 wins. Isaac was honored and inducted into the Maine Boat Builders Hall of Fame in 2025. This was a true honor and a lasting legacy for Isaac. Recently, he was building wooden half models for his family and friends, kind’ve a keepsake for his memory. Isaac was also working on Christopher in hopes putting her in the circuit once again. Christopher is at the Jonesport Shipyard in the loving hands of Jon, Ann and the crew.
One of my thoughts about this tribute is the fact that we are in a time that we are losing Legends of our fishing industry and I dearly want to pay them the respect that they worked so hard to earn. I told my daughter just this morning, one thing that can’t be taken away from us is our Heritage, always remember that. We need to “carry on.”
As we move on, this is an awareness of the sacrifice of our commercial fishermen as they risk their lives every time they leave the dock. Our seafood doesn’t come without a great risk and sometimes sacrifice of life. I have the greatest respect for our industry.
Most recently, the F/V Lily Jean sank off the Gloucester coast on January 30, 2026. Seven people, including an observer went down with only time to set off their epirb at 6:50 a.m. while returning to homeport. The U. S. Coast Guard launched an extensive search that covered 1,000 square miles. They suspended the mission after determining all reasonable efforts had been exhausted.
The F/V Lily Jean, its captain and crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show Nor’Easter Men. The captain, Gus Sanfilippo was a fifth generation Commercial fisherman, fishing out of Gloucester, MA, in the Georges Bank. This is much like the story of the F/V Andrea Gail, that disappeared in the North Atlantic during the Perfect Storm of 1991. They lost six crew members in that storm and the Andrea Gail was never found. Much like the Lily Jean, the only debris was the epirb (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), a fuel tank and an empty life boat. She was also a fishing vessel out of Gloucester, MA. Andrea Gail was captained by Frank “Billy” Tyne and set sail with the goal of catching tons of swordfish.
Moving on, sadly, we share the news of the passing of Tommy Williams, Jr. of the F/V Heritage. He is the brother of NEFSA President and commercial fisherman Aaron Williams. Tommy died doing the job that he was born into and loved. He also was a son, husband and father. Tommy was out of Stonington, CT. and well respected and a multi-generational commercial fisherman “whose pride in his livelihood and family was second to none.”
Now, let me explain to you about commercial fishing, which we are working so hard to protect and preserve. You may ask, “why?” Commercial fishing is an occupation that you need to make your money during the season and put it away for the “off time.” If you have a successful season, the money should last until the next season starts or you work in the shop such as Isaac Beal did. If there is a bad weather season where you can’t get out on the water to make your catch, the funds start to run out. With the extra expenses like heating fuel and rising prices of the fuel for the boat and even rising food prices, it makes it a scary thing. So, even when there is a threat of bad weather, a choice needs to be made. Some go out in bad weather simply because they are trying to support their families.
They that breathes the sea, where people know intimately the dangers faced by those who work on the ocean. As the Fishermen’s Statue reads: “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.”…Godspeed.
