Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short and Sean Therrien Identified Among 7 Lost in Gloucester, Massachusetts Fishing Boat Sinking on February 3, 2026
On February 3, 2026, Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short, and Sean Therrien were formally identified among the seven victims of the fishing vessel Lily Jean, which sank off the coast of Gloucester. The 72-foot commercial boat went down in frigid Atlantic waters as it was returning to port to repair gear. The tragedy has struck at the center of a fishing community that traces its maritime history back more than four centuries. The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for survivors before announcing a formal investigation into the cause of the sinking. Ice accumulation from freezing spray has been cited as one of several known hazards in such conditions, though no official cause has been released.
The five men were part of a crew described by fellow fishermen as seasoned and deliberate in their work. Paul Beal Sr. and Paul Beal Jr. represented a father-and-son presence aboard the vessel, a familiar thread in Gloucester’s maritime tradition. Rousanidis and Short were likewise known within the local fleet, while Therrien had recently joined commercial fishing to support his family during the winter months. Their names, along with the others lost, will be added to the city’s fishermen’s memorial, joining generations who never returned from sea. The loss has reinforced the persistent risks attached to the industry that continues to define Gloucester’s identity.
