Funds Being Raised For Missing Long Island Boater's Family

RONKONKOMA, NY — Funds are being raised for the family of a missing Long Island boater whose unmanned vessel washed up at Smith Point County Park in Shirley last week.

Suffolk police said 52-year-old Todd Mauro of Ronkonkoma was last seen leaving South Shore Boat Yard in Patchogue at around 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 30. His unmanned 25-foot boat was found washed up on the beach at about 8:30 a.m., prompting an exhaustive search of the water by a combination of 11 U.S. Coast Guard, police, and fire boats, as well as helicopters.

The Coast Guard suspended its search a day later, on Oct. 31, with Suffolk police's Marine Bureau taking over in a recovery effort, authorities said.

Police patrols continued to remain in the area on Monday, a police spokeswoman said.

Julie Gambale-Kubiak of Staten Island has started a GoFundMe for Mauro's family, and wrote that he is the father of three, saying that they were struck by "tragedy" and "need of all of our love and support."

"Todd was a dedicated and loving father who would do anything for his children," she wrote, adding, that his three children are "beyond devastated and heartbroken."

"They will need the support of all those who love them and their dad, Todd," she added.

"Please help this family bear the financial burdens that are upon them," she wrote, concluding, "Any contribution is deeply appreciated."

Patch has reached out for comment.

So far, close to $12,000 has been raised for Mauro's family on GoFundMe.

The platform's spokeswoman Madison Jones verified that all of the money collected will be going to the family.

Mauro's family told News 12 they became alarmed after he did not return when they expected from a last-of-the-season fishing trip. His son told Caroline Flynn he loved being on his boat and took it out every weekend with or without his family, who miss him very much.

A family friend on Facebook shared the GoFundMe in hopes it would help the family.

She admitted that she had not posted anything to Facebook in years, adding, "We are shocked and devastated."

"Todd is like a brother to me," she said, adding, that she spent every weekend on the boat with him in the summer. "I am praying that he will just show up with a crazy story in animated Todd fashion. Of course, it would start off with, 'Dude, you're never going to believe what happened to me.'"

Gracey described Mauro as "boisterous" with "the energy of a teenager."

"His kids are his world," she wrote. "He was always so proud of them. They're all super smart and so respectful. We would always joke that they must get that from their mom. They are so heartbroken, lost, and shattered."

One supporter of the Mauro family on GoFundMe wrote: "My brother is a fisherman, as well, and I couldn’t imagine the heartache I’d feel if he was missing. God bless, I’m so sorry for your loss."

One woman said how she was so sorry for their loss, and another offered her condolences.

Yet another supporter said how they were thinking of the Mauro family.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.