The 28-foot Carolina Skiff that overturned in frigid waters on New Year’s Day and led to the deaths of beloved Island couple Roy Scheffer and Patricia Bergeron is in the process of being salvaged and currently rests in Edgartown on a trailer. The vessel is at the center of an effort by the Scheffer family to preserve the memory of Scheffer, a pioneer in the aquaculture community on the Island, and help the family continue the legacy that he inspired in the next generation.
A campaign organized by Matteus Scheffer, his grandson, titled “Honoring Roy: Restoring Our Family’s Boat,” has already raised $35,175 out of a $60,000 goal as of Friday afternoon. The money raised will be used to repair the skiff that Scheffer and Bergeron were on that day. It was the primary vessel used for Scheffer’s oyster farm and scalloping operation, which he built over 25 years and shared with his family, according to the GoFundMe’s information.
“While our family continues to grieve the loss of our loved ones, my family now faces the additional hardship of losing the boat that allowed them to operate the oyster farm and to scallop. Thanks to the incredible efforts of close friends, the skiff was recovered and removed from the water. However, it now requires extensive repairs before it can be used again,” the young Scheffer wrote in the GoFundMe description. “This boat is key to keeping our family connected to the water and continuing the oyster farm that my grandfather was dedicated to. By donating, you are helping restore more than a boat. You are supporting local fishermen, a way of life, and honoring the dedication and work of a man who committed himself to the water and his community.”
The boat was recovered and towed from Cow Bay to Edgartown Harbor inverted on Saturday by the Edgartown harbormaster, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and local fishing boats. On Tuesday morning, the boat, which was tied up to a piling inside the Edgartown Harbor, was re-righted with help from Aquamarine Dockbuilders in Edgartown, the Edgartown harbormaster, State and Environmental Police, and the Scheffer family. The Scheffer’s towed the vessel away and it currently rests on a trailer in Edgartown.
“My grandfather taught us to love and respect the sea, understanding that it provides when treated with care and dedication. Watching him and so many in my family build a life on the water shaped who I am today. His path connected our entire family to the ocean and to this island. This connection is a legacy worth preserving. Thank you for your support, kindness, and for helping us carry my grandfather’s legacy forward,” his grandson also wrote.
A separate campaign for Bergeron’s family, titled “Support for the Bergeron Family After Loss,” has raised $22,171 toward a $24,000 goal. The GoFundMe seeks to help with immediate expenses and provide stability to the Bergeron family during their grieving process.
“We are heartbroken to share that our mom, Tricia Bergeron, has tragically passed away on New Year’s Day while being on the water doing what she loved with the one she loved. This loss has left our family devastated, and we are doing our best to support each other through this incredibly tough time,” Benjamin MacLean-Peters, her son, wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Your support will go directly toward helping us cover these costs and providing some stability for our family as we grieve and begin to heal.”
The loss of Scheffer and Bergeron has deeply touched every corner of the Island. Their lasting impacts and far reaching connections have united Martha’s Vineyard in mourning, and it showed on Tuesday at Bergeron’s celebration of life at the Portuguese-American Club. More than 700 Islanders gathered at the local bar, packing the venue shoulder to shoulder, with cars overflowing into nearby streets. While the event primarily celebrated Bergeron’s lifetime of service to the Island as the president of the P.A. Club, a retired emergency room coordinator at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, and a beloved figure in the Island’s hockey and cribbage community, friends and supportive loved ones from both families, including the entire Scheffer family, filled the space. A joint celebration of life is planned at a later date, as announced on the P.A. Club’s Facebook page.
