Fione Marie Picard was the dominant member of the family and for some time her siblings and mother (Clara) eventually followed her wherever she moved. Her brother was named Philip and her sister was Marcie.

She came to Africa as a possible idealist. What can I say- most people are either running away or toward something for one reason for another; especially those who travel. Her father was a mean guy and an abuser. I got this both from her and from how the others reacted from him. They came from Central Illinois and their origins were French Huguenot. Picard was their name though they were not from the Saginaw Picards. As far as I know, she remained estranged from her father throughout his life.

Fione was running away from her father. As much as I can remember, that is what she was running away from. She was a rebel. It seemed that whatever she did was in defiance with her father. Keep in mind this was in the early 60’s a long time ago. She would have not gone alone to Africa; she needed me or someone to get her there. But she was the more adventurous of the two of us. She really did want to go. My image of it was that she was gung ho to go, excited, enthusiastic and could not wait. She corresponded with her mother while we were in Africa but they seemed to fade away as we were there.

Going back a few years, she had moved out of her house right after we met and lived with a woman in Midland, Joanna (who was a nurse) for about a year who also had been a student at Delta. She was only 19 when she moved out. Basically she ran away from home. This happened when she was at Delta College.

This was just after we had gotten to know each other. We both graduated from Arthur Hill in 1961. She had a blow up with her father so she left. She lived in Midland until she went with me to Ann Arbor. We did not live together the first year. She lived in a coop; I stayed in a room in a private home.

She would visit her mother at home; it was not a total break from the rest of the family. They sometimes argued about things; though I can’t remember specifically what, though I think they argued about George’s behavior towards his mother. That is a guess. I always had a feeling that George was not a nice guy. She was very attached to her mother who was very nice; quiet even meek. I believe George was an abuser. He had all of the characteristics; he was duplicitous. There was coarseness to the guy, lower middle class. Nothing visible that I can remember, and an anger mainly towards her mother and Fione, and most likely the other two children.