Tag Archives: commercial fisherman Ricky Kopszywa
Historic MS Coast boat is saved after captain’s death. His family has hopes for its future
The Linda K sat for days near the shore of Deer Island, the water seeping in. It’s captain, esteemed shrimper Richard Kopszywa, died tragically last week after he went to work on the boat in the harbor. The 75-year-old devoted his days to restoring the historic vessel, and he never shrimped alone anymore, his family said. They do not know what happened. But through their grief, the Kopszywa family is determined to save the boat. One day, they hope to donate it to Biloxi’s Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, where Kopszywa is in the Hall of Fame. “That’s the logical place,” said his wife, Shelley. “It has to go there.” lots of links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:48
Beloved MS Coast Hall of Fame shrimper remembered as kind, humble and ‘full of grace’
Day after day, Richard Kopszywa shrimped from his old wooden boat named F/V Linda K, and carefully repaired it so the vessel still ran after decades. “He used to tell me, ‘If I can’t shrimp or if I can’t get out on the water, I think I will probably just die,” his wife, Shelley Kopszywa, said. “It was in his veins.” Now, his family is grieving after authorities found Kopszywa near Deer Island last week, two days after his wife reported him missing and the Coast Guard found the Linda K empty, five miles from shore. Shelley Kopszywa said she believes her husband died doing what he loved, so she is at peace. Kopszywa was humble, his wife said, and probably would not have liked all this attention. But she loves him too much to listen. He was the kind of man who helped her down the steps, she said, and always opened the door for her. “Full of grace,” she said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:47
UPDATE: Body found in Biloxi identified as missing 75-year-old shrimper
Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer says the body found Tuesday morning between Biloxi Beach and Deer Island is missing shrimper Richard Kopszywa. The 75-year-old Biloxi man went missing from the F/V Linda K shrimp boat. The boat sank while being towed to shore near the western tip of Deer Island. Three days earlier, Ricky Kopszywa took his shrimp boat out to fill some last-minute orders for Thanksgiving, his family said. When his wife didn’t hear from him Sunday, she reported him missing. The Coast Guard found his boat, the Linda K, five miles offshore. The boat passed down from Ricky’s father was named after Ricky’s oldest sister. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:35
