Richard D. Logan PhD - Alone. Orphaned on the Ocean

ALONE
Orphaned on the Ocean

Copyright 2010 Richard Logan and Tere Duperrault Fassbender.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, except for passages excerpted for the purposes of review, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information, or to order additional copies, please contact:

TitleTown Publishing, LLC
P.O. Box 12093 Green Bay, WI 54307-12093
920.737.8051 | titletownpublishing.com

Cover design by Mike Stromberg

Interior layout and design by Erika L. Block
Edited by Julie Rogers

PUBLISHERS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:

Logan, Richard D., 1942

Alone : Orphaned on the Ocean / Richard Logan, Tere Duperrault Fassbender

Green Bay, Wisc. : TitleTown Pub., c2010.
p. ; cm.

ISBN: 978-0-9820009-7-7

Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, etc. Personal narratives.
2. Victims of violent crimes United States Psychology.
3. Survival skills. I. Fassbender, Tere Duperrault. II. Title.

Printed in the USA by Thomson-Shore
first edition printed on recycled paper
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ALONE
Orphaned on the Ocean

Richard Logan PhD
Tere Duperrault Fassbender

TitleTown Publishing
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Never Forgotten:
Mom, Dad, Brian, and Ren; Gammie; Mo and Unk

For the Future:
Brooke, Blaire, and Brian; Alison, Wesley, and Arthur

Tere

by Tere Fassbender

As I sit on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, I listen to the whitecaps tumbling and crashing on the beach. I scan the horizon and think about the captain and crew of the ship, Captain Theo. I want to thank them for saving me from the ocean.

I thank Dr. Franklyn Verdon for being at my side when I awakened from a coma and for nursing me back to health.

Jenny Duperrault, my grandmother, I thank you for being everything to me in those first years as my gentle and loving soul mate.

Thank you Mo and Unk (Aunt Dot and Uncle Ralph Scheer) for taking me into your family and loving me as your daughter. Greg, Jeff, and Dan, I appreciate you for accepting me as a part of your family.

As my journey through life continued, Id like to thank the Brebner family and, especially, Pam for giving me friendship in those vulnerable years.

I am so grateful to my Aunt Lois and Uncle Fritz Duperrault and cousins David, Cheri, Alan, and Jean who have always loved me and have shown interest in me throughout my life.

I would like to thank my Nebraska family for all of their love and for allowing me to be who I am.

Thank you Aunt Janet and Uncle Bob Scheer for our special times, and Victoria for always being my best friend.

I dont believe I would have made it the last thirty-five years without my children Brooke, Blaire, and Brian. The love I have for them is unexplainable and different from the love many parents feel for their children as they are truly all I have. And now that the next generation has arrived, I am so fortunate to be a part of the lives of my grandchildren Alison, Wesley, and Arthur.

Thank you, my Ronald, for all of your love and support. You have been so good for me. You are my best friend, my safe harbor, my confidante.

I appreciate Richard Logan for all of his time and effort in working with me and writing this book. Thank you, Dick, for helping me through difficult times.

There are so many people and pets that have helped me along my rugged path. I give you a special thanks and I believe you know who you are. I am truly blessed and thankful for all who have come into my life and have helped me in some way. It is now my hope to help others by telling my story.

by Richard Logan PhD

The first person I need to thank is the subject of this story, co-author of this book, and most important subject of a remarkable life. With characteristic courage, Tere Duperrault Fassbender was determined that her story not only be told, but that it be told honestly, warts and all. I am deeply honored that my friend entrusted her story to me, but also grateful for the example of courage, honesty and decent humanity with which she has lived her life.

Equally determined to see this remarkable story told was Tracy Ertl of TitleTown Publishing, Green Bay, Wisconsin. She shepherded, cajoled, encouraged, and capably coordinated every detail of the production of this book. All-in-all, Tracy was the gentlest of bulldozers. TitleTowns Assistant Publisher Christine Ertl, who helped her mom multi-task, knows the truth of that image better than most. Profound thanks also go to the rest of Tracys magnificent team: TitleTown Publishings talented Editor Julie Rogers, who understood how to improve the writing without losing the authors voices, and how to gently make suggestions that enriched the story; Counsel Ellen Kozak, an accomplished, award-winning author in her own right, who was fierce in ensuring thoroughness and accuracy and stepped in to help with editing, thus significantly improving the book (It is great to see a publishing company with editors who actually edit!); Erika Block, who designed and formatted the interior of the book and has given it just the right look; interns Katie Stilp and Jessica Engman, who checked facts, diligently pursued missing details, formatted pictures, and supported the effort in many other ways. Everyone put in long hours. We all vowed that once the book was done, we would go on a retreat.

Although information for this book was gleaned from many sources over many years, I am especially indebted to the late Ben Funk for his research into the life and military career of Julian Harvey in 1961 and 1962. Funk, who died in 1982, also wrote some of the early Associated Press wire service stories on the Bluebelle.

At some point, Ben entrusted his files on the Bluebelle and Julian Harvey to his good friend, the late Gene Miller, Pulitzer Prize-winning Miami Herald writer. He evidently hoped that Mr. Miller might one day write a book. Miller gave me Funks research notes in 1992. He had followed Teres story and had deep affection for her, and she for him. I believe it was his hearing of my personal friendship with Tere that led him to give me these notes. Mr. Miller also showed me his own writings on the Bluebelle, and he helped me gain access to Miami Herald archives. I am deeply indebted to him. He died on June 17, 2005.

I also need to thank Hope Mercier, former secretary in the Human Development Department at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, for cheerfully and skillfully typing the drafts of this manuscript more than fifteen years ago that ultimately became part of this book.

I owe a large thanks to Sidney Vineburg, former rabbi of temple Congregation Cnesses Israel in Green Bay, for his intelligent conversation about the Bluebelle, and for his own research efforts into the case. Yes, the rabbi is also a private investigator!

There has been no greater believer in this story than Mike Blecha, retired reporter and editor for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. He continued to keep the story before the public and has always been a strong supporter of Tere. Along the way he was also a mentor of our publisher Tracy Ertl. Mike reiterated recently that Tere Duperrault was the bravest person he ever met.

Finally, I owe much to the student who more than twenty years ago told me there is someone I think you should meet. I regret very much that I do not remember his name, but he helped enrich my life. Perhaps he will read this book and contact me again so I can thank him properly for introducing me to Tere Duperrault Fassbender.