Community remembers missing boater found dead

POMFRET, Conn. (WTNH) -- It was a sad end in the search for a missing boater after rescuers found her body in a boat that went down in Long Island Sound.

On Monday morning divers found what many had feared: the body of Mary Patenaude in the cabin of her husband's boat 'Priceless.'

"Well we are certainly devastated and in shock, still trying to digest what has happened," said Pomfret First Selectman Jim Rivers.

The 50-foot Ferro-Cement boat went down just off the coast of Fishers Island New York Sunday afternoon.

From the shoreline to the quiet corner, word of the tragedy spread to Patenaude's hometown of Pomfret, where she ran the package store which has been in her husband's family for years and sat on many boards and charities.

"Mary was somebody who was well connected to just about everything that went on in Pomfret for many decades," said Pomfret First Selectman Jim Rivers. "She is certainly part of our community that we cannot replace."

Patenaude's body was recovered by divers at around 7:30 Monday morning in the cabin of her husband's boat, which went down in Long Island Sound Sunday afternoon.

"Several civilian boaters saved the day," said Ken Richards, Old Mystic Fire Chief. "When the boat went down there were several good Samaritans in the area."

Nine people and one dog were rescued by those boaters, but Mary reportedly went back into the cabin to get something and that is where her body was found by divers.

The loss is felt by many in the town. The very tight knit small community where everybody knows everybody, especially the Patenaudes who were very active in town.

"I just saw Mary Saturday morning at the post office as a small community you bump into each other quite often," said Brian Jessurun, Vanilla Bean Cafe. "She meets friends for coffee here in the morning."

Jessurun owns the Vanilla Bean Cafe where friends come to gather and now come to share their sadness. Folks say between Mary and her husband David, former First Selectman and veteran, they were involved in almost everything.

"It's really a terrible tragedy for everybody here," said Jessurun. "People can't even really talk about it."

And one from which it will be difficult to recover.