Lawrence “Larry” Rich was 54 years old when he was last reported missing from South Portland, Maine, on January 25, 2000. He was a White/Caucasian man with brown hair and brown eyes, listed at approximately 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall and 160 to 200 pounds. NamUs lists his case as MP53310, with the United States Coast Guard identified as the investigating agency. His case remains published in NamUs, and the provided case data does not list him as found alive or recovered deceased.
Larry’s life was closely tied to the Maine coast. Online memorial information describes him as Lawrence O. Rich Sr., a local fisherman born in Portland who attended Long Island schools and spent most of his life commercial fishing. He was remembered as a father of six sons and as someone connected to a community where fishing was not simply work, but family history, friendship, risk, and identity. The same memorial account notes that he often worked with his cousin and lifelong friend, Harry Ross Sr., who was also lost in the same sinking.
On January 25, 2000, Larry was aboard the vessel Two Friends near Boon Island Ledge, off the coast of Maine. According to the missing-person case summary, the boat began sinking after water came in from the stern and pulled the vessel down. There were three people aboard. One person survived, another body was found the next day, and Larry was never found. A separate online account written in connection with a memorial song for the men describes the evening as stormy, with waves reportedly reaching up to 20 feet and winds up to 30 knots, and says a distress call came from Two Friends at about 4:45 p.m. before the vessel rolled in the rough water.
The tragedy unfolded quickly and with devastating force. The account connected to A Song From Harry says the crew had barely managed to get survival suits on before Two Friends was struck by a wave and rolled. Harry Ross Sr. and Shawn Rich were thrown into the water, while Larry was pulled down with the boat. The surviving crew member, identified there as Shawn Rich, endured hours in the water before being rescued by helicopter. Harry Ross Sr.’s body was found the following day, but Larry’s body was not recovered.
The loss reached far beyond one boat and one family. Larry and Harry were described as beloved men within Maine’s fishing community, and more than one online memorial account reflects the shock and grief felt by relatives, friends, and fellow fishermen after Two Friends went down. Larry left behind sons and loved ones who were left with the pain of a sudden loss made even harder by the absence of recovery. His case stands as both a missing person case and a record of a maritime tragedy: a 54-year-old Maine fisherman, last known to be aboard Two Friends near Boon Island Ledge on January 25, 2000, lost when the vessel sank; one survivor lived to tell what happened, one companion was recovered the next day, and Larry Rich was never found.Last Seen: Jan 25, 2000
