The grieving family of a woman killed in the tragic San Francisco Bay boating disaster has confirmed her death, remembering her as their ‘beloved mother, daughter, sister, and aunt’ after what began as a memorial cruise ended in heartbreak.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified the victim recovered Thursday as 58-year-old Tondra Miller, also known as Tondra Madruga, one of three passengers who disappeared after the private 49-foot cabin cruiser Volare capsized and sank Tuesday afternoon in the San Francisco Bay.
Miller was among 20 family members and friends from the Stockton and Sacramento areas who had gathered to scatter the ashes of Maria Boisa, a Fremont nurse who died 10 years ago at age 32.
The group had spent about three hours at Angel Island’s Ayala Cove before heading back toward shore, when rough afternoon conditions and a powerful swell caused the top-heavy boat to roll onto its side, rapidly take on water, and sink.
Sixteen people were rescued, including three who suffered injuries.
79-year-old Clifford Joseph Boisa, a retired Sutter County reserve deputy, also died in the tragedy.
Two people remain missing and are believed to be trapped inside the sunken vessel, which rests about 120 to 130 feet below the surface west of Alcatraz Island.
In a Facebook statement shared by Quin Madruga, the family said they were “heartbroken by the loss of our beloved mother, daughter, sister, and aunt, Tondra Madruga.”
They asked for privacy as they grieve, saying, “Our hearts remain with every family impacted,” while thanking the public for its kindness and understanding.
The family also expressed their gratitude to the US Coast Guard, the San Francisco Fire Department, the San Francisco Police Department, first responders, civilian boaters and community members who helped rescue survivors and search for the missing, saying their dedication “mean more to our family than words can express.”
The statement, signed by Breanna Hewitt Crouch, concluded with a simple message: “Thank you for your prayers, love, and support.”
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