Tag Archives: Obituary
Rory Rodger Ahern, Jr., Greenfield, N.J. Scallop Fisherman has passed away
After years of struggling with mental health and substance use, Rory (Rodger) Ahern lost his battle at 29 years old. While his illness often took the forefront of conversations, we want to remember him as the dynamic and hysterical young man that he was while on this earth. His passion for fishing began at three years old and filled him with immense joy throughout his life. His last few months working as a commercial scallop fisherman on The Atlantic Warrior brought him the most happiness he’s experienced in years, thanks to a kind and supportive group of fishermen who encouraged him to set goals and envision a bright future. Rory had a beautiful heart and was always willing to help others without judgement, particularly because he understood how it felt to be judged and isolated. >click to read< 19:30
Ronald R. Fatulli, Lobsterman/Businessman of Middletown, RI, has passed away – Worked seven days a week.
Ronnie was born and raised in New Bedford, MA to the late Raymond and Jennie (Salvati) Fatulli. He served in the United States Army, stationed in Alaska. When Ronnie returned home, he quickly found opportunities through his dedicated hard work. He bought a small lobster boat and sold sandwiches to the sailors at anchor on Navy ships stationed in Newport. In 1959, he founded the Aquidneck Lobster Company and soon grew from one small lobster market to becoming the largest East Coast wholesale distributor. The Bowen’s Wharf location became their foundation in 1965, then expanded further with the Coast Canning Company. Ronnie had an understated personality, and spoke loudly with his immeasurable work ethic. He worked seven days a week for his entire career. He was known for his tough love, and if he gave you a shot, he wanted you to succeed. >click to read< 15:15
Ray Jones, well-known leader in the seafood industry, has passed away in Brunswick, Georgia
Raymond Lee Jones, 72, died on June 21, 2021, in Brunswick, Georgia, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a loving father, grandfather, a well-known leader in the seafood industry and a genuinely good soul who shall be deeply missed. In 1988, he accepted a position at Rich Products Corp., working for its SeaPak Shrimp and Seafood division on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Over the next three decades, Ray would have a huge influence on the company, and on the seafood industry at large. He was a genuine advocate for seafood and a trusted voice in meeting with members of the House, Senate and regulatory agencies. Ray served as chairman of the National Fisheries Institute’s technical committee from 1994 to 1996, and was the technical chairman of the National Shrimp Industry Association from 1998 to 2005. >click to read< 17:30
Perkins Cove Fisherman Richard “Rick” Smith Knight Jr. of York, Maine, has passed away
Rick was born on March 28, 1945 in York, Maine, the son of the late Richard S. Knight, Sr. and Barbara Helen Weare. He died June 27, 2021. Rick served as a marine engineer in the Merchant Marine, traveling the world nine times. This period, as well as his time at Maine Maritime Academy, provided ample material for many interesting stories, which he loved to tell to his friends and family. Fishing out of Perkins Cove in Ogunquit for over 40 years, Rick first had a dragger, the “Barbara Helen”, and later his lobster boat, the “Michelle D”. Rick loved being on the water, and deeply treasured the friendships and brotherhood that he had with the other fishermen in the cove. >click to read< 10:20
James (Jimmy) Omegna, a retired commercial fisherman. has passed away in Tacoma, Washington
James (Jimmy) Omegna 04-05-1946 to 02-21-21 – Jim was born in Tacoma, grew up in the Fife Valley and lived his whole life in Washington State. Jim was an avid fisherman, bird hunter, journeyman plumber, entrepreneur, and boat captain; the best father and a kind and generous friend and neighbor to many people, from Alaska to Baja, Mexico. Jim was a popular and successful charter captain based in Westport, WA where he operated his boats the Cold Spaghetti I and II during the 70’s and 80’s. As the industry declined, he switched gears to commercial fishing in Bristol Bay, AK during the summer herring and salmon seasons. When not in Alaska, he fished the San Francisco Bay herring runs and worked The Great Salt Lake brine shrimp season, he was never one to sit still. >click to read< 14:45
Retired Commercial Fisherman Leon “Bud” Francis Champlin Sr., of Narragansett, RI, has passed away
Leon “Bud” Francis Champlin Sr., 98, of Narragansett, passed away Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Born in North Kingstown, he was the son of the late Leon Mayfield Champlin and Madeline (Dillion) Champlin. He was the husband of the late Madeline Jane (Whaley) Champlin. Bud served in the Merchant Marines during WW II. After his return home, he laid out plans for an eastern rig dragger to his father-in-law, Cliff Whaley, a local ship builder and third generation of Point Judith Lighthouse keepers. Bud and his family assisted Cliff in building his 48-foot fishing boat, “Jane Lorraine”. In December of 1948, Bud, while fishing with Cliff Whaley and his brothers John and Kenny, dragged up a live bomb leftover from WW II. Just before the net reached the surface, the depth charge exploded. The boat and crew were towed back to port and assisted by Babe and Howard Whaley, Jack and Chet Westcott, Norman Gilbert and Dub Barrows. The fishing community was a close tight knit group of men, always there for one another. After repairs and adding a 12-foot piece to the middle of the “Jane Lorraine”, she continued to fish for another sixty + years with Bud as her captain, finally retiring at age 86. >click to read< 07:20
Waterman Allen Ray Crockett of Tangier Island has passed away
Mr. Allen Ray Crockett, beloved husband of Jeanette Bowden Crockett, passed away Monday, June 28, 2021. Allen was the son of the late Merrill Ray Crockett and the late Ruth Hall Parks Crockett. He was born Dec. 26, 1936, on Tangier Island, where he remained a pillar of the community throughout his 84 years. Allen’s lifelong career as a waterman began when he was just a boy standing on a crate as he worked alongside his father. Over the years he would travel to Crisfield, Md., to sell his Dad’s crabs, where the buyer always greeted him by saying, “Look out! Here comes Merrill’s boy.” Throughout his career, he owned three boats, The Wellington K., The Jeannette C., and finally, The Claudine Sue, which is now proudly owned and operated as The Samantha Paige, by his grandson, Thomas Reed Eskridge. >click to read< 17:26
Daniel Harrington of North Kingstown, R.I., a lifelong commercial fisherman, has passed away
Daniel Harrington, 57, of North Kingstown passed away peacefully on June 22, 2021 surrounded by his loving family, after a brief illness. Born in Warwick, he was the son of the late Gerald T. Harrington Jr and Sonia (Smith) Reed. Danny spent a lot of time at his grandparent’s beachfront home in Wickford where he found appreciation for everything about the ocean and fishing. He was a lifelong commercial fisherman, working out of Wickford, Point Judith, and Marathon, Florida. Danny was one of a kind and a friend to all who knew him. >click to read< 10:32
Mark Lawton Doumit, a commercial fisherman, politician, public servant, has passed away in Tenino, Wash.
Mark was born in Longview, Wash., on November 26, 1961, to Eli and Patricia Doumit and was the 10th of 11th children. He grew up in his family’s hometown of Cathlamet, Wash. While still in high school, Mark began a lifelong passion for commercial fishing. He began his career in the industry in high school, working on the Columbia River as a fish buyer. In college he began a nearly 40-year career in Alaska working in canneries and crewing on drift gillnet boats in Prince William Sound and Bristol Bay. Mark bought his own commercial salmon fishing operation in Cook Inlet, Alaska in 1986 and spent the remainder of his fishing career between Cook Inlet in the summer and lower Columbia River in the spring and fall. One of his great joys in life was the opportunity to fish alongside his sons and so many of his family and friends. >click to read< 09:24
Louis Harlow Nielsen June 25, 1930 – June 14, 2021 Oceanside, Ca.
Louis Harlow Nielsen was born at home during a dust storm on June 25th, 1930 in Manson Ia. Louis Nielsen began his life during the Great Depression. When he was two years old, the family moved to New Hampshire They settled in Portsmouth where Lou spent his early boyhood in a tribe of rag-a-muffins now known as the “Puddledock Kids.” After Lou’s father left, it became necessary for the children to find work, so seven year-old Lou got a job delivering newspapers. Fortunately the young boy found a job working for the Marconi family. Babe Marconi hired the nine year-old Lou, as a lobster lad to help out on his boat, but it was Babe’s wife Rose, who made certain the boy received a good breakfast every morning before setting out to sea. >click to read< 12:33
John “Jack” Horan, of Newport, RI, Commercial Fisherman, has passed away
John “Jack” Horan, of Newport, RI, passed away Sunday, June 20, 2021, surrounded by family and friends. Born in Newport, Rhode Island on March 19, 1949, Jack was an active member of the community involved in Offshore Commercial Fishing and serving as a member of The Federal Fire Department. Jack also served in the First Calvary Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. He received an honorary Air Medal for his service during that time. After his service in Vietnam, Jack began offshore fishing lobstering and was known for his spear accuracy in harpooning large swordfish. Jack enjoyed fishing and lobstering throughout his entire life on his boat “FV Hanna”. He was generous, funny, and grateful for every day. Jack was a great storyteller, and he had many stories he loved sharing with friends and family. >click to read< 19:23
Marine Engineer Joe Fletcher known as Joe Kelvin to fishing communities dies aged 92
He was the mainstay of Kelvin Marine Diesels, the firm that produced the engine that propelled Scotland’s fisheries. Over many decades, Joe Fletcher won the trust of fishing crews up and down the east coast of Scotland. Joe’s son Charles said: “Fishermen across the east coast and worldwide knew they had a friend in Joe Fletcher, a man who would always do his best to meet and often exceed their needs without compromising the business. He was reliable. On call night and day before people this side of the Atlantic even heard of the expression 24/7, Joe was always available on ship-to-shore radio calls to deal with engineering matters. In the days before the internet and mobile phones, ship-to-shore calls were a lifeline to fishing vessels nationwide. >click to read< 19:54
Douglas “Daddy Doug” Guthrie Sr., commercial fisherman, netmaker of Harkers Island, has passed away
Douglas was born March 27, 1942, on Harkers Island to the late Irvin and Bertha Guthrie. He was an avid commercial fisherman, his favorite fishing being channel netting for shrimp. Douglas was a lifetime netmaker and was the first in Carteret County to introduce mechanical clamming, of which he invented the prototype. In his earlier years, he managed net houses in Florida, but the local waters called him back home, where he enjoyed being on Core Sound with his family. Douglas was a loving husband of 59 years, faithful father to his sons, constant friend to his siblings and beloved papa to his grand and great-grandchildren. >click to read< 18:34
Retired Lobsterman Dennis Winthrop Norton of Martha’s Vineyard has passed away
Dennis was born on Oct. 16, 1945, in Vineyard Haven, and grew up in a bygone era of simple Island life. He was the son of Mildred Harriett Legg and Winthrop Mayhew Norton, A typical Island guy, Dennis was drawn to the water. He was a lobsterman, first out of a Novi skiff, then upgraded to the lobster boat Sea Foam out of Menemsha. In 1995, he purchased a new lobster boat, the Linda D. Normally not seeking the limelight, both he and Linda had a grand christening that summer during a spectacular Menemsha sunset, which was enjoyed by all attendees. The term “gentle giant” comes to mind for many islanders. He was just a soft-spoken, kindhearted man. >click to read< 09:10
Elda Curtis Henry, followed in his Commercial Fisherman fathers footsteps, has passed away
Family and friends are mourning the loss of “Curt,” since he passed away in Eureka in the presence of his family.,, After graduating Arcata High School in 1964, he married Eloise Henriksen of Fortuna. Curt followed in his father’s footsteps to become a commercial fisherman, and when his father retired, he and Eloise also took over the family business of Henry’s Crab Traps. Curt continued to fish for Dungeness crab, salmon and tuna along the entire West Coast from as far as Tahiti to Alaska. Over the many years of his career, he owned and operated the Cavalier, Early Dawn, Compass Rose and The Jewel. He taught his older sons, Rodney and Jeffrey, along with his nephew, Raymond, to fish when they were in their teenage years. In 1991 Curt met his second wife, Carolyn. Together they ran a successful bed and breakfast at East Brother Light station in Point Richmond, Calif. After some time, he returned to fishing, and they also divorced. >click to read< 17:02
Lloyd Earl “Bucky” Chatham of Seadrift, Texas, a retired commercial fisherman has passed away
Lloyd Earl “Bucky” Chatham, 78, of Seadrift, passed away May 31, 2021. He was born April 8, 1943 in El Paso to Charles P. Chatham and Mary M. Chatham. Bucky had many passions in life, hunting, fishing, traveling, diving, rowing many years in the Texas Water Safari, volunteering at the Calhoun County Humane Society, his family and many friends he met along the way. He was blessed to have worked doing what he loved and retired as a commercial fisherman. >click to read< 15:05
William S. Maloney, affectionately known as “Cow Farmer”, has passed away in Port Clyde
William S. Maloney, 56, died peacefully in Port Clyde, May 22, 2021. Billy had many interests. His work ranged from dairy farming and gardening, to logging, forestry, and many things in between. In 2001, Billy completed a firefighter training with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Billy loved flying planes and worked at the Rutland airport. For the last seven years Billy worked with lobsterman Justin Thompson of the “Ruthless” in Port Clyde, Maine where he was affectionately known as “Cow Farmer.” >click to read< 08:50
Sanford “Sandy” Twitchell, Santa Rosa – WWII Marine Vet, teacher and commercial fisherman has passed away
Sanford “Sandy” Twitchell passed away on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at the age of 96, 17 days before his 97th birthday. He is now with the love of his life, Lois, and his middle son, Bob. Sandy, a man of God, was an amazing son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, Marine, teacher and commercial fisherman. During summers he was a carpenter and pursued commercial salmon fishing. He had a 38 foot boat named the ‘Tomina Mae.’ Later, he built the first cement commercial fishing boat on the West Coast, a 42 foot vessel built from government plans that he modified to make it stronger and more seaworthy. These mods were so superior, the government bought the plans. >click to read< 09:27
Obituary: William G. Englehardt of Salem, Ma., WWII-Korean War Navy Veteran, Commercial Fisherman
William G. Englehardt, 96, died May 10, 2021 after a brief illness. He was the husband of Maria C. (Constantino) Englehardt. He was born in Salem to the late Albert and Agnes (Buckley) Englehardt. William was an honorary discharged veteran of the United States Navy, who served our country from the Navy’s submarines during WWII & Korean War. He worked on assembly at the United Shoe for many years. William retired at the age of 62 he loved fishing so much that he became a commercial fisherman which he continued until the age of 88. >click to read< 13:25
Commercial Fisherman Thomas Allen Hoxsie of the Point Judith Fishing community, has passed away
Thomas A. Hoxsie,64, passed away Sunday May, 9, 2021. A lifelong resident of Narragansett, Tom was the son of the late Samuel Bailey and Anne Nichols Hoxsie. He was the beloved husband of Doris Aschman and devoted father of Sarah and Benjamin Hoxsie Tom was a fixture of the Point Judith Fishing community, spending over 30 years tending floating fish traps, lobstering on his boat, the North Star, and raising Point Judith Salts oysters. Tom was unique in his ability to see forward and backwards in time. He saw the fishing industry in its entirety – as a business, a way of life and as a part of a whole. >click to read< 07:15
Mississippi: Shrimp industry leader Richard Gollott has passed away
Richard Gollott, a longtime commissioner with the Commission on Marine Resources and seafood industry leader, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 77. Gollott opened Cap’n Gollott Seafood in 1969, which grew to be one of the largest oyster processing companies on the Gulf Coast. He served as president of Gollott’s Oil Dock & Ice House, Inc., and vice president of Golden Gulf Coast Pkg Co., Inc, working alongside his son and brother as partners. Gollott was a lifelong resident of the Coast and a founding member of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. He also was a board member of the American Shrimp Processors Association. >click to read< 14:21
James Farrell Styron, 89 of Davis, Commercial Fisherman, James Styron Fish Co., has passed away
James Farrell Styron, 89 of Davis, passed away Friday, May 7, 2021, at his home with family at his side. The eldest of four, James was born to Alice and Virgil Styron Aug. 2, 1931. James met the love of his life, Nadine, at Smyrna High School and they were married Oct. 21, 1950. Soon after, James served in the U.S. Navy. James returned to Davis to start his more than 40-year career in the commercial fishing seafood industry. In his lifetime, he fished several vessels, including the Lorraine, Gulf Stream, Ken-Pat and Dickie Boy, from the waters of Virginia south to Key West before later focusing on seafood sales. Beginning in Beaufort in the mid-1960s with his father Virgil, his business later migrated to Davis. James Styron Fish Co. was a thriving seafood venture with clients all over the country, >click to read< 09:59
Clarence Dirk Rozema, of Mount Vernon, has passed away. Ran family business, Rozema Boat Works
On Monday, May 3, 2021, Clarence Dirk Rozema, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones, and went to be with Jesus. He attended Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mount Vernon and graduated from LaConner High School. At Emmanuel, he met Barbara Jon Connell of Mount Vernon and they married in 1966. Clarence and Barbara made their home in Bay View near the family boat business, where they worked together and raised their three children. Following his father’s death in 1979, Clarence found himself in charge of the family business. Already a respected yard known for wooden seine skiffs and small aluminum boats, Clarence guided Rozema Boat Works through its next phase of operations, building larger vessels used throughout Alaska and beyond. >click to read< 17:28
Fishery advocate Robert E. Best Sr. of Belford N.J. commercial fisherman/lobsterman/dealer, has passed away
Robert E. Best Sr., 78, of Belford, passed away April 20, 2021. Robert was born Sept. 20, 1942, in Long Branch, a son of the late Madlyn (Truax) and Frederick Best Sr. He lived in the Bayshore area all his life. Bob proudly served his country in the early 1960s as a part of the U.S. Navy’s construction force, the Seabees. In 1975 he found his true calling and became an independent commercial fisherman/ lobsterman. He and his partner, Jack Baker, opened the Shoal Harbor Lobster Co. in 1975 and ran it for 45 years until Hurricane Sandy destroyed the building. Bob was an advocate for local fishermen and the fishing industry in New Jersey. He worked with marine fisheries and senators. He was also the fisherman responsible for bringing black fish into the New Jersey fish markets. >click to read< 08:36
Obituary: Nathan Fuller, World War II – Korean War Navy Veteran, Lobsterman has passed away
Nathan Fuller, 94, passed away peacefully at Pen Bay Medical Center, with family by his side. Born in St. George June 24, 1926, he was one of four children born to Seymour and Elvie Chaples Fuller. In 1942, Nate lied about his age and enlisted in the Navy. On Dec. 30, 1957, he married the love of his life, Thelma Alley, and they enjoyed 63 happy years together. The second love of his life was lobstering. During his lobstering career, he had seven lobster boats built, and on the day his last lobster boat was sold and picked up by the new owner, he offered to “buy it back” for a higher price. >click to read< 16:25
Obituary: Captain Michael Lee Lindgren of Ketchikan – Commercial Fisherman
Michael Lee Lindgren, 65, died April 26, 2021, peacefully at home after a short battle with cancer. He was born on Nov. 20, 1955, in Mason County, Washingon. “Mike had a lifelong passion for fishing that started at a young age when he would go shrimping with his beloved Grandpa Johnny in Hoodsport, Washington,” He moved to Ketchikan in 1979 to work at Whitman Lake Hatchery, where he met Jill, who would later become his wife. After working at the hatchery, he worked as a deckhand on a longliner, troller, seiner, tender and processor. In 1991, he bought the F/V Seven Seas, a wooden fishing vessel built in 1944,,, >click to read< 10:13
Captain Edward Johnson Sears of Lower Wood’s Harbour, has passed away
Captain Edward Johnson Sears, 71, of Lower Wood’s Harbour, passed away on April 26, 2021 at Surf Lodge. Born on April 27, 1949 he was a son of the late Lindsey and Helen (Jeffery) Sears. In his younger years he enjoyed playing softball with friends and coworkers. Edward work as a fisherman for 50 plus years, he loved fishing and being on the open waters with his sons, grandsons and crew. He enjoyed spending time with his family at his cottage. Were ever Edward was he always had a grandchild, great grandchild, or his dog, Shania in tow. >click to read< 11:14
Obituary: Alaska – Commercial Fisherman Larry Miller
On Friday, April 16, Larry Miller, loving brother, uncle and friend passed away at his home. He was 66 years old. Larry was born in North Dakota to LeRoy and Joan Miller on August 8, 1955. The family moved to Montana where he attended Helena High until moving to Alaska in 1973, where he discovered the love of his life, commercial fishing. He longlined halibut, black cod and rockfish with his family for years, as well as stints at seining, crabbing, shrimping and at just about anything that would keep his feet wet. >click to read< 08:39
Obituary: Thomas Kezar of Cape Porpoise, supplying bait to New England fishing boats for 45 years.
Thomas (Todd) Joseph Kezar, 70, of Cape Porpoise, lost his battle with ALS April 23, journeying home to be with the Lord, joining his parents Thomas F. Kezar and Josephine D’Ascanio Kezar. Growing up here on the ocean, he loved to fish. After finishing school he spent a couple of years fishing and scalloping up and down the Atlantic coastline. He decided he loved what he did, his surroundings, his hometown, the fishing communities, the local people and fishermen he met, so he stayed, started his own business, found his niche running bait up and down the New England shoreline supplying the fishing boats. This was his world for 45 years. >click to read< 16:01
Commercial Crab Fisherman David Anthony Sherwood, Kodiak Island, Alaska
Dave born in Mankato, Mn on January 1, 1957 passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on April 1, 2021. He attended high school at Mankato West where he excelled at swimming and tennis. He joined the Army which took him to Hawaii. Upon completion of his service he stayed in Hawaii for many years. He traded the Hawaiian island for Kodiak Island, Alaska. Dave’s life was bound to Alaska where he was a crab fisherman on the Bering Sea for many years. Our family was on the receiving end of many of his “catch” as he would send home huge boxes of the biggest and best seafood we had ever seen or eaten. >click to read< 09:26
