Mayor Paul Lundberg was joined by Kimberly Brusseau and Beverly Cadigan of New Gloucester, Maine, at his office at Gloucester City Hall. Ms. Brusseau and Ms. Cadigan visited on behalf of the community of New Gloucester, whose residents organized a fundraising effort after learning about the devastating loss of the Gloucester fishing vessel Lily Jean earlier this year.
The Lily Jean, a 72-foot Gloucester-based commercial fishing vessel, sank on January 30, 2026, off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Seven lives were lost in this tragedy, which had a profound impact on Gloucester’s historic fishing community as many of the crew members came from multigenerational fishing families.
In the wake of the tragedy, Gloucester residents and supporters across the region have rallied to assist the families affected by the loss. The Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund established the Lily Jean Fund to assist the families of the crew members and support the broader fishing community. Donations to the fund are distributed evenly among the families of those who were lost.
Residents of New Gloucester, Maine, organized their own community fundraising effort and collected donations for the Lily Jean Fund. Together the town of 6,000 residents raised $3282 for the fund, along with sympathy cards and gift bags from Mainely Fudge for each family. Their generosity reflects the strong connection shared by fishing communities throughout New England and the widespread compassion felt following the tragedy.
“On behalf of the City of Gloucester, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the residents of New Gloucester for this extraordinary act of kindness.” Said Mayor Lundberg. “In the face of unimaginable loss, your community’s generosity is a powerful reminder that the bonds between our residents run deep. Your support not only honors the memory of the Lily Jean crew, but also brings comfort and strength to the families and to our entire fishing community during this difficult time.”
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Mayor Paul Lundberg
City of Gloucester
Good Morning Gloucester 