At just 22, her whole future was the endless ocean… until it claimed her forever. 🌊😢

Jada Samitt chased her dream from Virginia to the wild seas off Gloucester — fresh diploma in hand, heart full of passion for protecting the waters she loved. She landed her first big job on the Lily Jean, excited to dive in as a NOAA observer and crew member.

But that voyage ended where it all began for her dreams: at the bottom of the sea.

Now, her final goodbyes to friends — words of excitement, adventure, and love — hit like a chilling omen in hindsight. Messages that once sparked joy now echo with heartbreaking irony, as if she somehow sensed the danger lurking.

What did she really say in those last texts and posts? The words that now feel prophetic… and the tragedy that stole a brilliant life way too soon.

This story will break your heart — click to read the full devastating details. You won’t believe how close her dream came before it vanished. 👇

Jada Samitt, a 22-year-old recent college graduate from Richmond, Virginia, embodied youthful ambition and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. She had just begun what she called her dream job as a federal fisheries observer aboard the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean when the boat sank off Cape Ann on January 30, 2026, claiming all seven lives on board and leaving families, friends, and an entire community grappling with profound loss.

Samitt earned her B.S. in Natural Resources, concentrated in Ecology, from the University of Vermont in May 2025. She joined A.I.S. Inc., a contractor partnering with NOAA Fisheries, in July of that year. Her role involved collecting critical data on commercial catches — information used to shape sustainable fishing regulations and protect marine ecosystems. Family members described her move from Virginia to Massachusetts as a deliberate pursuit of her passion for the ocean and the fishing communities that depend on it.

In a statement released by her family shortly after the incident, Samitt was remembered as “vibrant and compassionate with an infectious smile and spirit. And, above all, she was brave and determined. She fiercely loved her friends and family. Today we are lost without her.”

The family emphasized her dedication: “Jada was on the Lily Jean that day because of her strong belief in her work, not only as an observer, but as someone who knew her important role as a crew member. She proved herself to be so on every trip, and conveyed to us how critical it was to protect the seas and fisheries. We could not be more proud of and grateful to her for it.”

Her aunt, Heather Michaels, told media outlets that being at sea was “something she loved and put her heart and soul into.” Samitt’s excitement about her first major assignment was evident in communications with friends and family, where she shared her anticipation for the challenges and rewards of life offshore. Those messages, once filled with optimism about her future, now carry an unintended weight of foreshadowing for those left behind — words of adventure and purpose that, in retrospect, feel hauntingly final.

The Lily Jean, a 72-foot vessel captained by Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. on January 30, about 25 miles off Cape Ann. No voice Mayday call was transmitted, and the Coast Guard received no response to radio hails. Rescue crews located a debris field, one deceased individual, and the vessel’s unoccupied life raft. Search operations, covering over 1,000 square miles amid harsh winter conditions — freezing temperatures, rough seas, and high winds — were suspended on January 31 after officials concluded survival was no longer possible.

The U.S. Coast Guard formally identified all seven victims on February 2, 2026:

Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, captain and owner, a fifth-generation Gloucester fisherman known from the 2012 History Channel series “Nor’Easter Men.”
Paul Beal Sr. and Paul Beal Jr., father and son crew members.
John Rousanidis, 33.
Freeman Short, 31.
Sean Therrien.
Jada Samitt, 22, NOAA fisheries observer.

The Coast Guard’s Northeast District, under Rear Adm. Michael Platt, launched a formal investigation with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board. Early indications suggest possible rapid capsizing due to icing, heavy load shifting, or equipment issues while the vessel was returning to port laden with catch. No definitive cause has been released, and the probe is expected to take months.

Samitt’s loss has resonated particularly with educational and environmental communities. The University of Vermont issued a statement expressing deep sorrow: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our recent graduates in a tragedy at sea Friday. Our thoughts are with Jada Samitt’s family during this heartbreaking time.”

Gloucester, America’s oldest seaport, has a long history of maritime peril, yet each incident renews grief. Vigils at St. Ann’s Church drew hundreds sharing memories. Tributes continue at the Fisherman’s Memorial, where flowers and notes honor the crew. State Sen. Bruce Tarr, who knew Sanfilippo personally, described the captain as skilled and wise, making the loss near shore especially difficult to comprehend.

Vito Giacalone of the Northeast Seafood Coalition highlighted the industry’s inherent risks: “Fishermen face these conditions every day, especially in winter.” NOAA Fisheries paused observer deployments temporarily due to severe weather forecasts.

Donations support the families through Fishing Partnership Support Services, designated for Lily Jean victims. The tragedy underscores ongoing safety concerns in commercial fishing, one of the nation’s most hazardous occupations, with cold-water immersion and vessel stability as leading threats.

For Samitt’s loved ones, the irony is piercing: a young woman who dreamed of the ocean now rests in its depths. Her final communications — expressions of excitement, gratitude, and love — serve as poignant reminders of a life brimming with promise, abruptly ended. Friends and family hold onto those words not as omens, but as testaments to her spirit, even as they mourn what might have been.

As the investigation proceeds, Gloucester and beyond seek answers while honoring seven individuals who pursued their livelihoods — and in Samitt’s case, her calling — on the unforgiving sea.