Poppa Neutrino

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Poppa Neutrino
Born
William David Pearlman

(1933-10-15)October 15, 1933
Fresno, California, United States
DiedJanuary 23, 2011(2011-01-23) (aged 77)
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
NationalityAmerican
Other namesDavid Pearlman, William Maloney
Occupation(s)raftbuilder musician, and founder of the oWL PaRTY
SpouseBetsy Terrell
Website[1], [2]

Poppa Neutrino, born William David Pearlman, (October 15, 1933

Fresno, California[2] – January 23, 2011[3] in New Orleans, Louisiana) was a musician, raft builder and "free spirit" who lived his life outside expected norms.[4] He has been called a modern primitive, a nomad, a permanent dropout, raftbuilder and musician.[4]

Biography

Inspired by a documentary he saw when he was twelve years old, in which

waterways) and supported himself as a street musician.[6] He changed his name at the age of 52 after surviving a severe illness.[4]

Neutrino built several rafts out of donated and recycled materials on which he lived and sailed. In 1997-98 Poppa Neutrino sailed one of his homemade

Atlantic and the first to do so on a raft made from trash.[7]
Betsy Terrell, his wife, was the captain and navigator on the crossing.

In 2008 Poppa Neutrino moved to Burlington, Vermont to build another raft, this time on Lake Champlain.[8] In 2010, he planned a circumnavigation of the globe, leaving Burlington, Vermont to head first south to Florida with three sailors and their three dogs aboard a new craft, a 37-foot trimaran complete with two outboards, a heated pilot house and four cabins. However, on November 9 their raft was driven onto rocks on Thompson's Point, Charlotte, Vermont. Poppa Neutrino and his fellow rafters were rescued from Lake Champlain.[9]

Neutrino died on January 23, 2011, in a hospital in

New Orleans, Louisiana, of heart failure.[10] Neutrino's jazz funeral was attended by dozens wearing bright costumes.[11]

Married "several times," he had four children, as well as step- and adopted children.[4]

Books and films about his life

Poppa Neutrino's life and travels have been the subject of articles and books, including two by Alec Wilkinson[12][13] and a documentary film.[14]

References

  1. ^ Family Tree Legends William David Pearlman
  2. ^ ,"His journey started in 1933 in Fresno California."
  3. ^ obituary in The New York Times Retrieved January 28, 2011
  4. ^ a b c d Kamiya, Gary. The Nomad The New York Times March 18, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  5. ^ Neutrino, Poppa. "Neutrino Ideas".
  6. ^ Neutrino, Poppa. "Streetwise". Video. HomeTeamProductions. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Random Lunacy - 60 minute documentary - trailer". Documentary trailer. Home Team Productions. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Poppa Neutrino raft musing outside of the Radiobean". Video. LionEyeCrow. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  9. ^ Davenport, Melinda. "Poppa Neutrino, fellow rafters rescued from Lake Champlain". News Article. WCAX News. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  10. ^ Baird, Joel Banner. Burlington Rafter, Adventurer Poppa Neutrino Dies Burlington Free Press[permanent dead link] January 24, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  11. ^ "Poppa Neutrino's Jazz Funeral". Video. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  12. ^ Wilkinson, Alec.The Crossing (Abstract) The New Yorker June 27, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  13. ^ Kehe, Marjorie. Is 'The Happiest Man in the World' Fearless, Crazy, or Simply Original? The Christian Science Monitor April 3, 2007. Retrieved on January 25, 2011.
  14. ^ Silber, Stephanie. Random Lunacy: Videos from the Road Less Traveled 2007. Retrieved on January 25, 2011.

Further reading

External links

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