Donn Fendler, American author and speaker (b. 1926)
Donn Charles Fendler (August 29, 1926 – October 9, 2016) was an American author and public speaker from Rye, New York. In July of 1939 at the age of 12, he got separated from his family and became lost on Maine's Mount Katahdin. His disappearance launched a manhunt which became front page news throughout the nation and involved hundreds of volunteers. Donn survived for nine days without food or proper clothing, before following a stream and telephone line out of the woods near Stacyville, Maine. Fendler was dehydrated, covered with insect bites, and 16 pounds lighter than at the beginning of his odyssey, but otherwise unharmed. He credited his experience as a Boy Scout in helping him survive the ordeal.