Gloria was an exceptional wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed bridge, traveling and her annual trip to Avalon in New Jersey with Bill (Cathy) and Don (Darlene), granddaughter Monica Michele Desiree Kim Jen and Stephanie plus special bonds with Gio, Franco and Vince who will all miss her greatly. Gloria will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
In 1984, NOAA Corps Officer Jack Moakley secured and piloted the former Army harbor tug Gloria Michelle to its new home port at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Woods Hole Laboratory. This 72-foot research vessel replaced Rorqual as it boasted refrigerated fish holds, an expanded deck space suitable for gear testing and scientific studies, and twice the horsepower as her predecessor.
Gloriamichele still bears its original name because it represents “a boat with a history.” Today, Gloriamichele serves the ocean under Captains Anna-Liza Villard-Howe and Shannon Hefferan’s command.
