The close-knit community of Martha's Vineyard is in mourning after a beloved local fisherman and his wife tragically drowned when their boat capsized on New Year's Day.
A Fatal Accident in Severe Conditions
Roy Scheffer, 77, and his wife, Patricia Bergeron, 69, were discovered on Thursday on an overturned 47-foot skiff approximately half a mile off the coast of Edgartown. The couple had been out scalloping when disaster struck.
According to the Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office, a significant and sudden weather system swept across the area, bringing high winds, snow, and sleet. This created extremely challenging sea conditions, with swells reaching six feet and winds of 20 knots.
First responders found the couple unresponsive and not breathing. They were rushed to Martha's Vineyard Hospital, where extensive lifesaving efforts were performed, but both sadly succumbed to their injuries.
Investigation Points to Tangled Fishing Line
Investigators have determined the likely cause of the capsizing. After securing the vessel overnight, officials returned and found that a polypropylene-style fishing line had become entangled in the boat's propeller.
In an official statement, the District Attorney's office said, 'Based on this initial information available, the incident appears to be a horrible accident with no signs of foul play.' The entanglement, combined with the abruptly worsening weather, led to the tragic outcome.
Remembering Two Pillars of the Community
The DA's office noted that 'Martha's Vineyard has lost two pillars of their community which will be deeply felt.' Both individuals were deeply respected and active members of island life.
Roy Scheffer was a lifelong commercial fisherman. A 1966 graduate of the Island High School, he began scalloping that same year and became a fishing captain in 1975. He later became one of Martha's Vineyard's pioneering oyster farmers and passed his passion for the sea on to his three sons.
Patricia Bergeron was a retired emergency room coordinator and a central figure in the island's Portuguese-American community. She served as president of the Portuguese-American (PA) Club of Martha's Vineyard for over two decades and was the longtime chief organiser of its annual Feast of the Holy Ghost celebration.
Her contributions were widely recognised; she received the Heritage Day of Portugal award at the Massachusetts State House in 2023 and was honoured with the Spirit of the Vineyard award in 2025 for her meaningful service to the island. A former vice president of the PA Club described her as 'the heart and soul' of the organisation.
The couple's passing has left an immense void on Martha's Vineyard, with heartfelt condolences extended to their family and loved ones.
