The family of a California man who went overboard from a Carnival cruise ship last month has broken its silence, revealing his widow is navigating legal and administrative obstacles while raising three young sons alone.
Thomas Gigler, 56, of Redlands, California, was on a 15th wedding anniversary trip with his wife Michelle Gigler, 48, aboard the Carnival Panorama when he is believed to have jumped into the water on Sept. 20. The ship was sailing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, toward Long Beach at the time.
Gigler’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Michelle, and in a post on the platform, his sister Wendy Gigler described the longtime Esri employee as a beloved husband, father, friend and neighbor. She wrote on behalf of the family that his death was “sudden and completely unexpected.”
“His loss was sudden and completely unexpected and he was so loved,” Wendy wrote.
The family portrayed Thomas as a man of generous spirit and easygoing temperament, someone who “didn’t sweat the small stuff” and never judged others. He was also “always up for a healthy debate,” they said, adding that he was “genuinely curious to hear others’ views of the world.”
Now Michelle faces the dual burden of grief and practical survival. “Michelle is now raising three boys on her own,” the family wrote in the fundraising appeal. She is simultaneously confronting memorial expenses, legal and administrative hurdles, and the loss of Thomas’ income.
The financial strain is compounded by bureaucratic delays. Paperwork needed for Michelle to access insurance and retirement funds could take months to process, the family explained. “Michelle needs support now,” the post stated.
Thomas worked for Esri, a geographic information systems company, for 24 years. As of Monday morning, the crowdfunding campaign had raised just under $8,500 toward its $35,000 goal. Donations will go directly to Michelle through GoFundMe’s beneficiary system.
The money will help cover memorial and immediate expenses, maintain the household’s financial stability over the coming year, pay for grief counseling, and begin building an education fund for the boys — something their father “cared deeply about.”
The family had previously pushed back against speculation about what led to Thomas going overboard. Wendy Dowden, also identified as his sister, rejected a fellow passenger’s claim that Thomas had discussed marital problems at the ship’s Alchemy Bar the night before his disappearance. The family maintained that Thomas and Michelle “were getting along quite well” and believed he was not in his normal state of mind when he went overboard.
The Carnival Panorama turned around after surveillance footage showed Thomas had entered the water, and the ship conducted a search before resuming its journey to Long Beach. The U.S. And Mexican Coast Guards, Mexican Navy and nearby vessels also participated in the search, though Thomas was not located. He is presumed dead.
The family expressed gratitude for support from unexpected quarters. “To everyone who has reached out with prayers and kind words, including the passengers who created a memorial onboard, our family is deeply grateful,” Wendy wrote. The post added: “If you can’t, sharing this page helps just as much.”
The GoFundMe campaign continues accepting donations toward its $35,000 goal.