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Pamela
Jean Rafferty was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1952. Her father was a
cook on the ships that sailed the Great Lakes. Her mother Brooksie
was a stay-at-home mom. She had a half-brother, Randal Williamson,
that her father raised as his son; Randal's father died in 1947.
Pam later married in 1969 to a Mr. Johnson, with whom she is still
married.
Pam's remembers her years as a child, meeting her father at different
docks in many cities. She was able to see many things like Niagara
Falls and big cities like Chicago. Pam loved eating meals on the
ships when the ship he was on came to Toledo. She can remember
that many times her mom and dad would rushing back to the docks to be on
time when they were stopped by trains and her dad always got back just
in time to not be late. Pam also very clearly recalls her dad
sailing to India, Vietnam, and even Japan. He once brought the
family a set of china back from Japan.
When Robert Rafferty was on the Fitz the night it sank Mrs. Johnson was
eight months pregnant with her fourth child and was living in Georgia.
Pam says she was never able to attend any services for her father until
2000 when Gordon Lightfoot came to Kansas to do a concert. There she met
him back stage and they talked about his song. Pam showed him a
letter he had written to her in 1977, which he did remember sending her.
On the 25th anniversary of the sinking of the ship, Mrs. Johnson was
able to attend the ceremony at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and ring
the bell for her father. Each year she also attends the service in
Detroit at Mariners' Church. Pam says she plans someday to go back
to Whitefish Bay and ring the bell from the ship.
Pam currently works in a nursing home as a Certified Dietary Manager.
She has been at my job for 2 and a half years, where she cooks food for
the residents. She has always worked as a cook, just like her dear
father Robert Rafferty, who died on November 10, 1975 when the Edmund
Fitzgerald sank. She also helps with the research and development
of this website, and helps answering questions pertaining to the crew
and her father, Robert Rafferty.
To
send Pam a message, click here.
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