Peter Kouscouros

Peter Kouscouros, 63, father of two fishermen sons, had been active in the fleet since he took up residence in this area in 1912. Born in Greece, he came to this country in 1906 and settled in Lowell. He was a member of the Atlantic Fishermen's Union and attended St. George Greek Orthodox Church. He was married to Mrs. Evangeline Kouscouros, and his sons were George and William Kouscouros, fishermen for the last 15 years. He had five daughters, Mrs. Irene Powers of San Francisco, Cal., Mrs. Portia Crowall of New Bedford, Mrs. Bessie Gregkowsis of New York City, Mrs. Helen Rawlins of East Greenwich, R.I., and Mrs. Mary Westveer of Kempster, Wis.

The Theresa A., an aircraft rescue boat converted for use as a fishing vessel, left Fairhaven on September 9, 1950, and was last sighted fishing on Georges Bank. On September 12, the ship sent two radio messages: first a distress signal and then a message that the crew was abandoning ship. The weather was extremely bad, with heavy seas and winds of roughly 55 miles per hour. The Coast Guard launched a sea and air search, joined by several merchant vessels. The search continued until September 16, but no trace of the ship or its crew was found.

The only body recovered was that of Ernest Rich, who was found in October floating off Seal Island in Penobscot Bay.