Another season of season of hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and all of the many outdoor activities we look forward to,is on our doorstep! As we prepare to enjoy our summer outdoors, it seems appropriate and timely that we introduce you to Donn Fendler.
Donn Fendler
In addition to being the uncle of our founding partner Nancy Fendler he is a legend in Maine and one of the reasons we at Fendler Communications, take safety in the outdoors very seriously. As a young boy Donn was hiking Mt. Katahdin with his father and brother and became separated from them and was lost for 9 days. This link will take you to a website that will allow you to enjoy some of Donn’s true and inspiring story of his incredible 9 day journey entitled “Lost on a Mountain in Maine”.
We hope you will be inspired by Donn and always remember that safety is the most important key to enjoying our beautiful outdoors. We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to John Thurlow for creating and maintaining this website as a tribute to Donn and his contribution to children and their education over the years.
38 Responses to “Meet a Maine Legend – Donn Fendler”
My class would like to write letters to Donn Fendler. Where should we send them?
Hi Diana and thanks for your note. From late fall through early spring, your class can send letters to:
Donn Fendler
1770 Theresa Drive
Clarksville, TN 37043
He loves to hear from students!
I enjoyed Donn’s story of his untimely adventure on Katahdin, my wife and i just returned from a trip to Mooshead lake, I saw his book at a local store and bought it, didnt put it down until I read the whole thing! I hope he is doing well……
Thank you Bryan. I will pass along your kind words to Donn. Yes, he is doing well!
Good Morning,
I stumbled on your site as I was helping my Grade 3 son work on a school project surrounding “Donn Fendler — Lost on a Mountain in Maine”. The children are constructing dioramas of scenes from the book that resonate with them. It is my son, Ian’s, second reading of the book, the first followed by a trip to Lunksoos (it’s quite nearby) and our attendance at his talk at Cole’s Museum in Bangor. Though he was rendered speechless as Mr. Fendler signed his well-worn copy, he recounts the day as “awesome”. Mr. Fendler began his talk to the effect, “..if anyone gets bored, it’s fine to leave…” little brother Leif, said, “Mumma I’M bored…!” and promptly fell asleep. Little sister Fiona sat quietly on my lap and smiled and waved to a nice lady behind us, who responded in kind. Though they were both silent, and seemingly having a good time, surely this nice lady was missing a fascinating talk! Mrs. Fendler, as it turned out, and I,and our little ones had a wonderful visit while our oldest queued up for the book signing. Such a warm and lovely lady… we were saddened to hear of her passing. We extend our deepest sympathy to Mr. Fendler. We are grateful for the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Fendler, as they have given so much of themselves, for which we are the better. Thank you for posting a mailing address for Mr. Fendler. Though Ian’s teacher may have it already, I will see that she does. She plans to post pictures of the children’s dioramas online as well.
Sincerely,
Lisa Ammerman
P.O. Box 46
1093 Benedicta Road
Benedicta, ME 04733
(207) 365-7691
lisaammerman@peacemail.com
Hi Lisa,
What a lovely note. I will pass along to Donn. I can just hear him say, “If you are bored it’s fine to leave.” He has a great sense of humor. We all miss Ree (Mrs. Fendler). Thank you again!
Nancy
Mr. Fendler:
I am a retired school teacher visiting my mother in Massachusetts from my state of Alaska. I saw your book, Lost on a Mountain in Maine, and read it last night. This morning I asked my mother about it (she, too, was 12 years old in 1939). She told me the story of how her, her parents, and two sisters listened to the radio every day for updates of your story and how her father cried when the news came across the air waves you were found safe. Thanks for a great story and a timeless read that will inspire generations of young (and not so young) readers for generations.
Cheers,
Cal Pappas
Willow Alaska
I am a 3rd grade teacher in New Mexico and am reading Lost on a Mountain in Maine with my class. Is thre any way to Skype with Mr. Fendler?
Hi Shari. Sorry for the slow response. I will check with Donn to see if he has access to skype and get back to you. He is in TN for the winter. Thanks so much for your interest!
My best,
Nancy
Any word about Skype-ing with Donn?
Hi Shari,
I am very sorry for the delay in responding. Donn has been away. He does not have access to Skype I am afraid. He can be reached my mail at
Donn Fendler
1770 Theresa Drive
Clarksville, TN 37043
or by email at dfendler@charter.net
If you send him a note, he just might be able to make something happen for your class.
Thanks so much again for your interest in Donn and his story!
Awww, I absolutely LOVE Lost On A Mountain In Main!!
I could not put it down! I think I must’ve read it about a million times! Each time it was sooo great!!
I hope Mr. Fendler is doing well
Regards from Boulder, CO!
PS. never actually been to Maine, but being from Colorado, I am an avid hiker myself!
Hi,
I sent this letter last week to Mr. Fendler’s email address, which I found on this site. I haven’t heard from him yet so I thought I’d send the request along here.
Hello Mr. Fendler,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to see if you might be available to visit our Young Author’s Camp, which is part of the Maine Writing Project, next week. We will be holding the camp at Sebasticook Valley Middle School in Newport and would love for you to present on Friday, July 16 from 10-11. I am assuming, of course, that you are here in Newport at your camp on Lake Sebasticook so there definitely wouldn’t be any traveling involved!
If you are interested and available we would love to include you in our camp!
Please let me know. Thank you.
Angela Brown
Teacher Consultant and Literacy Specialist
Maine Writing Project Fellow and Teacher
Hi Angela,
This is a great invitation. I will try to get this message to Donn.
Me Fendler,
We were so disappointed to learn that we missed your talk at Kidney pond by one day. My 9 year old son Vick was inspired to climb the hunt trail after reading your book. WE did so successfully on the 7/30/10.
He has called you his idol and would have loved to meet you. When and where will you be speaking again? We would be up for the trip.
Sincerely,
Rick Morrone
North Yarmouth MAine
Hi Rick,
Thanks for posting and sorry for slow reply. I am not sure how often Donn looks at our site. You may want to contact him directly for his schedule. He will be on the school circuit soon. He can be reached via email at dfendler@charter.net.
Dear Mr. Fendler
You are at cole museum again today, again I missed you can you please let me know where you are going after this. In maine I would love to see you. and get a autograph book from you thank you sorry I missed you again today.
frannie
Hi Frannie,
Thanks for your note and sorry tht you missed Donn. You might want to reach him directly as I do not know his schedule. He does not look at this blog much I do not think. You can reach him at dfendler@charter.net. I am sure he would be happy to autograph a book for you!
Can you tell me where Donn Fendler was born? My daughter is working on a report for school and this would be helpful to know. She was very moved by his story, especially that he kept going with prayers and his faith. What a nice role model for all of us! Thank you.
Hi Eileen,
Thanks so much for your note. My apologies for the slow reply. Donn along with his twin brother, Ryan (my Dad) were born in New York City on August 29, 1926. The family moved to Rye, New York shortly after they were born.
Happy Holidays to you and your daughter!
Hi,
I was looking to contact Mr. Fendler about visiting our school. I am from Dr. Lewis Libby School in Milford, Maine. My teachers and I have read Mr. Fendlers’ book and it was amazing what he went through. I was wondering how i could contact Mr. Fendler about making an appearance at our school or having a Skype conference with us. My teachers don’t know about this yet but they would be very grateful if he would agree to visit us. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Cameron DePaola
Hi Cameron,
Thank you for your note! I am sure Donn would love to hear from you! The best way to get in touch with him is by sending him a letter with your request to:
Donn Fendler
1770 Theresa Drive
Clarksville, TN 37043
Or, send him an email at dfendler@charter.net.
Donn is very good about getting back in touch. He moves to Maine in the late spring and usually stays through October.
Good luck!
or by email at dfendler@charter.net mailto:dfendler@charter.net
Hi,
I have recently talked to Donn and he has agreed to visit my school. He asked me to call him when he returns home from Tennessee. I have not been able to get ahold of him yet and i was wondering if he was held up by the flooding and storms in Tennessee? Thank you
Cameron DePaola
Hi Cameron,
My apologies for slow reply. I am not sure when Donn is returning to Maine. He ususally comes up at the end of May, early June. You might want to try emailing him at dfendler@charter.net.
Many thanks,
Nancy
Donn spoke to our homeschooling group last fall. Do you have his MAINE address for us to send our very belated thank-you note? I tried emailing him but I haven’t heard back.
Thanks so much!
Hi Becky,
I am so sorry for the slow reply! Donn’s Maine address is:
Donn Fendler
Barrows Point Road
Newport, ME 04953
Gearing up for another teaching year. I teach 4th grade in a rural Maine town. We begin each year with Maine Studies. The first read aloud I share is “Lost on a Mountain in Maine”. I never tire of his courageous journey and neither do my students! I was wondering if he still responds to students?
Thanks,
Crystal
Hi Crystal,
Thanks so much for your post! Donn does respond to kids and loves it! The best way to reach him is by email until mid October at dfendler@charter.net mailto:dfendler@charter.net. After that, you can write to him at:
Donn Fendler
1770 Theresa Drive
Clarksville, TN 37043
Hope this helps!
Take care and my best,
Nancy
Hi…I sent this email to the address listed on this site, and I wanted to post it on here as well!
Dear Mr. Fendler,
I know it is probably too late, as I have no idea if you are even in the area at the moment, but I was wondering (if you were still around), if you would be available to visit the fourth grade class at the Hartland Consolidated School in Hartland, Maine. I am totally kicking myself for not thinking to contact you sooner. I have never taught a Maine studies unit in depth and decided this past summer that I was going to spend my summer vacation creating one BIG integrated Maine studies/survival unit. I had no idea how it as going to go, but so far, the kids are LOVING IT! Of course, I am using the book Lost on a Mountain in Maine as my current read aloud. My students are really enjoying it and are so engaged! In fact, they are so excited about it that everything we are doing this year, we are tying into the Maine/survival theme…even our classroom management system.
I have some boys in my class who are very apprehensive about school, but they absolutely love it so far. I have one student who today yelled out, “I love fourth grade!” He is NOT a student anyone would expect to say such a thing. I know that meeting you would be such an exciting experience for him, as well as the rest of my class, especially since their experiences are rather limited in Hartland. Anyway, if you are still around and have any spare time at all, we would LOVE for you to come to our school!
Sincerely,
Mary Graziano
Dear Mr Fendler November 30,2011
Today I finished reading the Graphic-Novel About your Nine Day Travel through MT.Katahdin.Tomorrow is my 12th birthday So i some what know what it is like being 12.I heard storys from my grand mother who just turned 62 who heard them from her mom who at that time she was 19 years old how about how she had friends helping to rescue you cause our family has lived in main ever science it was considerd a state(As far as we know) and i would realy like to hear more about your story if you could please contact me at me e-mail littlemanstone99@gmail.com
HI Eric,
This is Nancy, Donn’s neice. Thank you for yoru kind note! I am not sure he reads this blog much, so I am going to send him your note via email. I know he is on tour with his new book, so it might take a bit for him to get back to you, but he is very fond of getting letters from choldren and does respond!
Take care and happy holidays to you!
My best,
Nancy
So is their a mail box i can send my letter?
Thank you for your time Eric stone
P.S. If you need more contact infromation Talk to me through Face book EricEj stone is the name ty for your time yet again nancy
So sorry for slow reply Eric!
Donn’s address is:
Donn Fendler
Barrows Point Road
Newport, ME 04953
Take care and happy holidays to you!
Nancy
What did Donn Fendler do for a career through his adulthood?
Hi Charlotte,
Happy New Year to you. I am sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
Donn spent most of his adult career serving as an officier in the US Army, spending 20 years in the Special Forces, known as the Green Berets. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.