Serena Vegessi Schick died at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital of complications related to Covid-19 on Nov. 24. She was 42.
Born at Southampton Hospital on June 28, 1979, she grew up in Montauk, graduating from East Hampton High School and from Virginia Wesleyan University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.
Following graduation from college in 2002, she returned to Montauk and started working with her father, Capt. Michael Vegessi, on the family fishing boat the Lazybones.
In 2004, she obtained her United States Coast Guard license, purchased a 35-foot Duffy fishing boat, and along with her sister, Rebecca, began operating the charter boat the Ladybones. In their first year of operation, the sister team captured first place in the Montauk Mercury Grand Slam fishing tournament.
In 2010, she married Dustin Schick, a commercial fisherman. They lived first in Cape May, N.J., and then in Phoenix. She returned to Montauk in June.
“Serena picked up where she started from and began doing what she loved and was always meant to be, working on the water with her father,” said her mother, Kathy Vegessi. “The thing I loved about her being home was her laughter, her beautiful smile, and her tight hugs. Her heart truly never left Montauk.”
In addition to her parents, Ms. Vegessi Schick is survived by her sons, Vance and Hunter, her sister, Rebecca Gagnon and her husband Danny Gagnon, with whom she was close, and their children, Temperance and Kaliber. She also leaves behind many aunts and uncles.
She will be cremated and her ashes will be spread on Block Island Sound from the Lazybones next summer.
Donations have been suggested to the Montauk Ambulance, care of the Montauk Fire Department, 12 Flamingo Avenue, Montauk 11954, or to the Montauk Friends of Erin, at montaukfriendsoferin.org.
