The body discovered Thursday floating near Treasure Island has been identified as one of the three people still missing after a boat capsized earlier this week in the San Francisco Bay.
Tondra Miller, 58, was among 20 people thrown into the bay earlier this week when a wave hit their three-story boat off as it motored near Alcatraz Island, according to the San Francisco Office of the Medical Examiner. The Sacramento County woman is the second person confirmed dead in the disaster, while two others remain missing.
Also killed in the sinking was Clifford Boisa, 79, the brother of John Boisa, who was the vessel’s owner and operator.
In a Facebook post, a person who said they were a relative identified her as Tondra Madruga, and said her family was “heartbroken by the loss of our beloved mother, daughter, sister, and aunt.” The post thanked first responders and the civilian boaters who rushed to help people cast into the bay on Tuesday, adding that “your dedication and support mean more to our family that words can express.”
The family also thanked people for privacy, and said “our hearts remain with every family impacted, and we sincerely appreciate your kindness and understanding,” said the post by Quin Madruga.
John Boisa identified the other two people still missing as his sister, Carol Boisa, as well his sister-in-law — and Clifford Boisa’s wife — Jackie Boisa.
Clifford and Jackie Boisa were planning to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November, according to a GoFundMe post for a fundraiser to support Clifford’s daughter, Mary Ann Boisa.
All of them were on the 49-foot boat, called the Volare, when a wave hit the craft around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, causing it to list to one side before rolling over. Sixteen people were plucked from the water by emergency crews and by multiple private boaters who arrived on scene first and were later hailed by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie for their “heroic” actions.
The boat had been on a “family outing” that day, John Boisa told this news outlet, that included spreading the ashes of a family member who had died years ago. The boat tracking website VesselFinder showed the boat leaving the city’s Marina Yacht Harbor around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday and traveling beneath the Golden Gate Bridge into the Pacific Ocean, before turning around off Lands End and visiting Angel Island.
The boat appeared to be chugging back in the direction of the harbor when it sank.
The Coast Guard searched for survivors over 950 square nautical miles — an area larger than the size of Yosemite National Park — before ending the rescue operation Wednesday evening.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.