ROCKPORT — Joseph Correia has been a boater during his entire life. But the 72-year-old Rockport resident recently realized part of his world has gone by without fanfare or the praise that he believes should be offered. Corriea is alluding to the assistance offered by Rockport harbormasters Scott Story and Rosemary Lesch.
The two have been instrumental in saving the lives of scores of boaters off the Rockport coast, he said. In fact, Corriea is one of those people given an assist by the Rockport pair. Once, when piloting his 22-foot Downeast Beal, Corriea found himself stranded near Thacher Island.
“My boat wouldn’t start,” he said. “I tried to start it 40 times and for 40 times, it wouldn’t start. They spotted me and I saw the urgency and the immediacy in getting to me to help.
It was bad water.” Corriea, who moors his boat at Granite Pier, said the two harbormasters often find themselves in dangerous squalls that put them at risk. “I’ve seen them out there in the most horrible conditions,” he said.
“They are among the most unsung heroes we have in law enforcement. I’ve seen them going out on calls in conditions that have been very serious. They are always working.
” The job the pair does allows them to serve the community and “to make a difference with the people out there,” Story said. Their work boils down to helping people, Lesch said. “Rockport has a following and we love taking care of people,” she said.
“This is a boating community that we love taking care of from all over the East Coast. We’re the Coast Guard out here on the coast of Cape Ann. We make a difference.
” The harbormasters oversee Rockport’s four harbors — Rockport, Granite Pier, Pigeon Cove and White Wharf, according to the town’s website. There are more than 360 vessels in these harbors, one third of which are commercial fishing vessels. The rest are powerboats, sailboats and pleasure boats.
Story and Lesch are certified as harbormasters and EMTs by the state. All members of the Harbor Department are licensed captains and are first-aid trained. Correia describes Story as having the work ethic of three men and Lesch as a lifesaving expert who displays a special kindness when helping others.
“I call them beauty and the beast,” Correia said. “They’re always there to help the next person in need. I admire them.
They’re working their way to heaven. I can’t say enough about them.” Correia continued with his praise, saying Story and Lesch complement each other.
“They’re always there to help you when you need help,” he said. “It’s like they’re on duty 24/7.” Correia, who has lived in Gloucester, but now makes Rockport his home, believes many in the Rockport boating community take Story and Lesch for granted.
“Being a lifelong resident in Rockport and Gloucester, I feel they were instrumental in me moving here,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for them. Certain people stick out in a crowd.
I don’t know as many people who are as good as they are. They’re very special people.” Corriera is not alone in his praise for the two Rockport harbormasters.
Fellow boater Alan Lepine said when his grandchildren recently visited, Story and Lesch allowed him to tie up his boat at Granite Pier. “I’ve had a lot of experiences with them and every one of them has been wonderful,” Lepine said. “They always go out of their way.
I can’t say enough about them.” Lepine, 65, tells the story of a fatality near Thacher Island a few years ago. While the story had a tragic ending, he said seeing the professionalism exhibited by Story and Lesch at the time was impressive.
“I’ve watched them a number of times,” Lepine said. “Watching them do what they do is absolutely amazing. It’s totally professional.
They are so good.” The value the two Rockport harbormasters exhibits is boundless. “For the time they put in and the pennies they are paid, they are so dedicated,” he said.
“I’ve dealt with harbormasters from other towns and they’re all very professional. But they go above and beyond. They’re amazing and kind and they go out of their way.
” Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or [email protected] . Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.
com . "They are among the most unsung heroes we have in law enforcement." — Joseph Correia of Rockport {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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