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GLOUCESTER, Mass. — <\/span>There wasn’t a mayday call from the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean as it navigated the frigid Atlantic Ocean Friday morning on its way home to Gloucester, Massachusetts, America\u2019s oldest fishing port. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified by the boat\u2019s beacon that alerts when it hits the water.<\/p>\n When rescuers arrived they found one person dead, floating in the water, along with a debris field and an empty life boat. Six people remain missing.<\/p>\n The fate of the Lily Jean, a 72-foot fishing vessel owned by a beloved member of Gloucester\u2019s historic fishing community, is the latest maritime tragedy to befall America\u2019s oldest seaport. The city that inspired \u201cThe Perfect Storm\u201d is tied to its fishing heritage in a way that has brought 400 years of history and, sometimes, tragedy. That book and movie were inspired by the FV Andrea Gail, which went missing at sea in 1991.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to search throughout the night,\u201d said Coast Guard Commander Timothy Jones, who is coordinating the search and rescue. He noted that the sea spray was freezing on vessels and caused a serious danger to both the missing fishing boat and rescuers.<\/p>\n The Lily Jean, its captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show \u201cNor\u2019Easter Men.\u201d Sanfilippo is described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, fishing out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in the Georges Bank. The crew is shown working in dangerous weather conditions for hours on end, spending as many as 10 days at sea on one trip fishing for haddock, lobster and flounder.<\/p>\n Republican State Sen. Bruce Tarr, who confirmed seven people were on the vessel, grew emotional as he talked about Sanfilippo, who was a good friend.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a person that has a big smile, and he gives you a warm embrace when he sees you,\u201d Tarr said. \u201cHe is very, very skilled at what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n Tarr said the \u201cfact that vessel now rests at the bottom of the ocean is very hard to understand,\u201d given the owner\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a community that has felt this type of loss in the past,\u201d Tarr said. \u201cI\u2019m going to make a prediction. Tonight, tomorrow and the days that follow, no matter what happens, you\u2019re going to see the strength, strength that has made this the most historic fishing port in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n Vito Giacalone, head of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, said he knows Sanfilippo from the captain\u2019s early days in commercial fishing and knew him as a hard worker from a fishing family. He said he and the fishing industry in Gloucester, a community where commercial fishing is a longstanding way of life, are distraught.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did well for himself. I was proud of him,\u201d Giacalone said. \u201cAnd now the dock we own, he ties his boat at the dock so we see him every day. He\u2019s been to all my kids\u2019 weddings. That\u2019s how close we were. I feel a sense of loss. A lot of us do.\u201d<\/p>\n