In Memoriam
Central West Coast Florida Fishermen Lost at Sea
Michael Timothy Costello, age 29, Captain of the Gulf Coaster,
lost with mate John Molina when their vessel disintegrated at
The Elbow, about 73 miles west of John’s Pass, on Feb. 27, 2005.
Michael worked on the Hubbard’s Marina overnight fishing trips
for a long time before he decided to run the Gulf Coaster. He
loved being on the water and fishing, often saying, “It was the
best!” He was known by family and friends as a great person who
would do anything for anyone, giving clothes, food and money,
his time and physical help, to anyone who needed them. Survivors
include his father, John Thomas Costello; mother, Shirley Ann
Costello; brother, John Edward Costello; and grandmother, Nadine
Smith.
Billy Gilbert, age 33, lost with friend Kenny Nash while shark
fishing, when their open 24-foot Thompson outboard disappeared
about 30 miles west of Indian Rocks Beach, on Jan. 27, 1984.
Gilbert was an ex-Marine and in the Merchant Marine, and an
experienced commercial fisherman, according to good friend
Charlie Williams. His mother, June Schrachta, described him, as
“not big, about 5-9 and 165 pounds, but he’s a survivor.” Other
survivors included a son, Billy Jr. and two sisters.
Pavel Kraus, age 37, of Madeira Beach, long-time galley cook for
Hubbard’s Marina, whose body was found in the Intracoastal
Waterway on Oct. 28, 2003. He came to the United States in 1988
from Klatovy, Czech Republic. He was a good worker and a good
Friend. Survivors included his mother, Ruzena Krausova, Plzen,
Czech Republic.
Lawrence Edward “Capt. Larry” Lewanos, age 38, yacht captain of
the Last Dime (Madeira Beach) and Marlin Darlin and Sling Shot
(Clearwater), as the result of a diving accident in the Gulf off
Clearwater while with Richard Dimmitt and Barry Cochran, on
Sept. 17, 1997. Born in St. Petersburg, he moved to Seminole in
1990. He was a Navy veteran who took up boating, and an
experienced diver, remembered as a “good guy” by both Dimmitt
and Cochran. Survivors included his wife, Jody; mother Leilani
DeMint; brother, Edward Ringwald; sister, Mary Shelton; and
nephew, R. Lee Williams.
John Molina, age 42, crewman on the Gulf Coaster, lost with
Captain Michael Costello when their Gulf Coaster disintegrated
at The Elbow, about 73 miles west of John’s Pass on Feb. 27,
2005. Molina was described by friends as “an adventurer and a
happy-go-lucky guy,” who sometimes took his black Lab out on a
water scooter. Originally from Texas, he had worked occasionally
in the fishing fleet, for area parasailing boats and personal
water vehicle renters. This was to be his last trip before
relocating to run a parasail boat.
Kenny Nash, age 35, lost with friend Billy Gilbert while shark
fishing, when their open 24-foot Thompson outboard disappeared
about 30 miles west of Indian Rocks Beach, on Jan. 27, 1984. His
sister, Kathy Conroy, said, “We’ve been through a lot together,
and I probably know him better than anybody. He had served in
the Marines in Vietnam and would do anything for anybody. At 6-3
and 180 pounds, he was a strong swimmer, and a survivor.” He was
an experienced commercial fisherman, according to good friend
Charlie Williams. Other survivors included his mother, father
and two other sisters.
We will be listing the names of the Central West Coast Florida
Fishermen Lost at Sea on this
www.floridafishermenlostatsea.com website as soon as we have
verified the accuracy of our records.
If you know of a Florida Fishermen who was lost at sea-
