Page 16 - AT

A16 LOCAL
Thursday 30 January 2020

Loyal visitors of Aruba mourns loss of beloved fishing boat captain

ARUNDEL, US — Aruba Today was contacted this week
by Hayley Brown with a heart touching story. She wrote
to us: “This is the story of my dad who tragically passed
away a few days ago. I have been visiting Aruba with my
parents for over 20 years and it was always my job to get
the Aruba Today from the hotel lobby for him to read on
the beach.” Captain Arnold 'Joe' Nickerson IV died after
Nickerson's boat the 'Hayley Ann' sank.

The News Center Maine ran the story on January 25:

"Our minds are racing about what could have
happened. He knew what he was doing,"
said Hayley Brown. Hayley Brown said she is in
shock, after her dad Captain Joe Nickerson
died at sea. "It has to have been something
that was just quick and completely out of our
hands and something he couldn't control,"
said Brown. The Coast Guard said Nickerson's
boat, the 'Hayley Ann' which is named after
Hayley and her mom, capsized off the coast
of Portland Thursday. Another crewman, Chris
Pinkham, also died. "We've been in touch
with his wife," said Brown. Nickerson was a 4th
generation lobsterman. He grew up fishing
at Cape Porpoise in Kennebunkport. "It was
the only thing he knew. He could have never
done any other job," said Brown. Hayley is an
only child and said when she was younger,
she would help her dad get ready for fishing
trips. "He used to let me paint the buoys, but
I would take too long. I was trying to be too
precise," said Brown. While she said he couldn't
recruit her, he was hoping to share his passion
one day with her one-year-old son. She said
knowing that can't happen now, is the hardest
part. "My son won't get to grow up and know
my dad the way I did. He was so excited to
one day share his love of fishing with him," said
Brown.

Her dad has been a member at Costa Linda Beach Re-
sort since 1995. In the picture you can see him and his
wife at the Natural Bridge during their first trip to Aruba for
their 10th anniversary. q