The family of a California father who went overboard from a Carnival cruise ship last month says his widow is now navigating “legal and administrative hurdles” while grieving his sudden disappearance and caring for their three young sons.
Thomas Gigler, 56, was traveling with his wife, Michelle, 48, on an anniversary getaway when he is believed to have gone overboard from the Carnival Panorama on Sept. 20. The ship was sailing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Long Beach at the time.
Gigler, a Redlands resident and father of three, is presumed dead.
In a GoFundMe campaign, his family remembered him as a devoted husband, father, friend and neighbor whose death was “sudden and completely unexpected.”
“His loss was sudden and completely unexpected and he was so loved,” Wendy Gigler wrote in the appeal on behalf of the family.
Relatives described Thomas as generous, relaxed and accepting, saying he was someone who “didn’t sweat the small stuff” and did not judge others.
He also welcomed thoughtful disagreement and was “always up for a healthy debate,” the family said, noting that he was “genuinely curious to hear others’ views of the world.”
Michelle is now facing the challenge of raising their three boys without her husband.
“Michelle is now raising three boys on her own,” the family wrote.
The fundraising page said she is coping not only with the emotional devastation of Thomas’ loss, but also with memorial costs, complicated legal and administrative matters, and the disappearance of his income.
As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe had collected just under $8,500 toward its $35,000 target.
The family said the financial pressure has been intensified by the lengthy paperwork process required for Michelle to access insurance and retirement benefits, which could take several months.
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“Michelle needs support now,” the appeal stated.
Thomas spent 24 years working for Esri, a company specializing in geographic information systems. His family has previously said they believe something unexpected occurred shortly before he went overboard.
Wendy Dowden, Thomas’ sister, also disputed an account from another passenger who claimed he had spoken about marital difficulties at the ship’s Alchemy Bar the night before he disappeared.
According to the family, Thomas and Michelle “were getting along quite well,” and they believe he was not in his usual state of mind when he went overboard.
Carnival Panorama reversed course after surveillance footage indicated that Thomas had entered the water. The ship carried out a search before continuing toward Long Beach.
The U.S. and Mexican Coast Guards, the Mexican Navy and vessels in the area joined the effort, but Thomas was not found.
Through GoFundMe’s beneficiary system, donations to the campaign will be sent directly to Michelle Gigler.
The funds are intended to cover immediate and memorial expenses, help maintain the family’s financial stability over the next year, pay for grief counseling and establish an education fund for the boys—something their father “cared deeply about.”
The family also thanked those who have supported them since Thomas Gigler disappeared, including Carnival passengers who created a memorial aboard the ship.
“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.
“If you can’t, sharing this page helps just as much,” the post said.
