Michael A. Vieira

Michael A. Vieira, 30, died unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 21, 1994. He was the husband of Ruth Anne (Butts) Vieira and son of Charles E. Vieira of Acushnet and Rosemarie (Mello) Vieira of New Bedford. He was lost at sea when the fishing vessel Wanderer capsized. A lifelong resident of New Bedford, he was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church and was employed as a fisherman.

Survivors include his widow; his parents; a grandmother, Emma Johnson of Fairhaven; a son, Joshua M. Vieira of New Bedford; two daughters, Catherine M.Vieira and Rebecca L. Vieira, both of New Bedford; two sisters, Lucille Martin of New Bedford and Linda Burton of Cape May, N.J.; a stepmother, Phyllis J. Vieira of Acushnet; a stepbrother, Steven Rogers of Acushnet; a stepsister, Donna Francoeur of Mattapoisett; and several nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Michael D. Vieira and brother of the late Catherine M. Vieira.

The Wanderer was on the way home near the entrance to Quicks Hole when she capsized in rough seas. The crew of the dragger Marie Kim saw the accident and alerted the Coast Guard, but neither her crew nor the extensive Coast Guard search located the two crew members, Michael A. Vieira and Karl M. Schlemmer. Divers found the men's bodies in the forecastle on November 27 but were unable to retrieve them. State Police divers recovered the bodies three weeks after the accident.