A family gathering meant to bring closure after years of grief turned into another devastating tragedy when a boat carrying loved ones who had gathered to scatter the ashes of Maria Vi Boisa capsized in the San Francisco Bay.
The Boisa family had spent more than a decade waiting for the moment to honor Maria, who died by suicide in 2015 at the age of 32. Because of her deep love for surfing and the ocean, her family chose the waters she loved as her final resting place.
On Tuesday, family members and friends boarded a three-deck cruiser and traveled from San Francisco’s waterfront into the Pacific Ocean to scatter her ashes. The emotional ceremony marked the end of a painful chapter for a family that had carried the loss of Maria for 11 years.
However, tragedy struck just hours later as the group was returning to San Francisco. A powerful wave reportedly struck the 49-foot cabin cruiser Volare, causing the vessel to suddenly overturn with 20 people aboard.
Remembering Maria Boisa
Maria Boisa, a Santa Cruz County resident, was reported missing in May 2015. Her remains were discovered two months later near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur.
Loved ones remembered Maria as someone who had a deep connection with the water. Her adoptive father, Ralph Boisa, said she was an avid surfer who loved the ocean and the San Francisco Bay, making the location chosen for her ashes especially meaningful.
Three generations of the Boisa family gathered for the memorial trip, including Maria’s sister, Yvonne Thatcher, who traveled from Auburn with her family to honor her sister’s memory.
Boat Capsizing Leaves Multiple Victims
According to family accounts, passengers were seated on the middle deck when the boat overturned without warning.
“They didn’t see or hear anything,” Ralph Boisa said while describing his daughter’s account of the incident. “They’re sitting, and all of a sudden, the boat went over.”
Emergency crews responded quickly after the vessel sank, launching rescue operations involving multiple agencies. The boat is believed to have settled in approximately 120 feet of water.
Authorities confirmed that Clifford Boisa, 79, died after being rescued from the water. The body of Tondra Madruga, also known as Tondra Miller, 58, was later recovered by authorities.
Two people remained missing following the disaster, and while the U.S. Coast Guard suspended active rescue operations, police continued searching the area.
Family and Community Grieve
What began as a day of remembrance for Maria became another painful loss for the Boisa family and everyone affected by the tragedy.
Loved ones are now grieving multiple losses while holding onto memories of the people who were lost and the purpose behind the gathering — to honor Maria’s life and the connection she had with the ocean.
The incident has also raised questions about boat safety, weather conditions, and the circumstances surrounding the sudden capsizing. Authorities continue investigating what caused the vessel to overturn.
As the community mourns, Maria Boisa’s memory remains connected to the ocean she loved, while family members continue searching for answers and supporting one another through an unimaginable tragedy.
May Maria Boisa and those lost in the San Francisco Bay tragedy be remembered, and may their families find strength and comfort during this heartbreaking time.