Retired lawyer's body recovered from bay | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com

Retired lawyer's body recovered from bay | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com:

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A search began for Sam Viviano, 70, who used to work at the Levin Papantonio firm, on Tuesday morning after Viviano's son-in-law spotted his father-in-law's 17-foot boat circling in the bay. 


The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission believes that as Viviano was piloting the boat the steering wheel came off, and he was thrown overboard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Lt. Doug Berryman said.

A helicopter pilot spotted Viviano's body shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday, about a mile south of an area known as the Chimney — at Langley Avenue and Scenic Highway. The body was about 50 yards offshore.

Berryman said it appears that a bolt that held the steering wheel in place came off for some reason. When the steering wheel came off, the boat likely made a hard right turn.

"And I mean a real sharp right-hand turn, which would eject the person out of the boat," Berryman said. "That steering wheel shearing off would be the only issue that we have found with the boat."

Viviano was a civil law attorney at the Levin Papantonio firm before retiring in 2000. He handled real estate transaction law as well as commercial and personal litigation.

Viviano, who also was a real estate developer, was known for being a community activist and philanthropist, Proctor said.

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/pensacola/search-continues-for-missing-boater

He said Viviano's 17-foot Cape Horn was spotted by his son-in-law spinning out of control at full throttle.

Viviano, 71, was not onboard.

"Apparently, what he was doing he was bringing the jet ski and the boat back to his house, and something obviously happened on the boat to cause him to apparently fall overboard," Berryman said.

Berryman said when they found the boat, it was missing the steering wheel. This is one clue that brings them closer to an answer as to what happened.

“After closer inspection on that, (it) looks like the pin/bolt that holds the steering wheel on was really rusty and broke off. And as most people know, when you are operating a boat, the only thing you have to hold onto is the steering wheel,” said Berryman.