Family of California Man Who Died on Cruise Ship Faces Financial and Legal Hurdles
The widow of Thomas Gigler, who is presumed dead after falling overboard from a Carnival cruise ship, is navigating grief alongside financial and administrative challenges.
The family of Thomas Gigler, a California man who went overboard from a Carnival Cruise ship last month, has shared that his widow is facing significant legal and administrative difficulties as she raises their three sons.
Gigler, 56, was on an anniversary trip with his wife, Michelle, 48, when he is believed to have jumped from the Carnival Panorama on September 20. The ship was en route from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Long Beach, California, at the time of the incident. Gigler, a father of three from Redlands, is presumed deceased.
In a GoFundMe post, Gigler's family described him as a beloved husband, father, friend, and neighbor whose death was "sudden and completely unexpected." They remembered him as a generous and easygoing individual who "didn’t sweat the small stuff," never judged others, and was always open to healthy debate and hearing different perspectives.
Michelle Gigler is now left to raise their three sons alone, managing the emotional toll of her husband's death while also confronting memorial expenses, legal and administrative hurdles, and the loss of Gigler's income. As of Monday morning, the crowdfunding campaign had raised under $8,500 towards its $35,000 goal.
The family noted that the financial strain is compounded by the lengthy process of obtaining the necessary paperwork for Michelle Gigler to access insurance and retirement funds, which could take months. The GoFundMe aims to cover memorial and immediate expenses, provide financial stability for the household over the next year, fund grief counseling, and establish an education fund for the boys, a cause that was important to their father.
Thomas Gigler had been employed by Esri, a geographic information systems company, for 24 years. His family has expressed belief that an unexpected event occurred shortly before he went overboard. Gigler's sister, Wendy Dowden, has refuted a fellow passenger's claim that Thomas had discussed marital problems on the night before his disappearance, stating that Thomas and Michelle were getting along well and that he was not in his usual state of mind.
The Carnival Panorama turned around to conduct a search after surveillance footage showed Gigler had entered the water. Despite the ship's search efforts, as well as assistance from the U.S. and Mexican Coast Guards, the Mexican Navy, and nearby vessels, Gigler was not located.
The family has expressed deep gratitude for the support received, including gestures from fellow passengers who created a memorial aboard the ship. They encourage continued support through donations or by sharing the fundraising page.