Broken Wand for November 2010

The following are the obituaries which have been reported to the I.B.M. Headquarters since October 1, 2010. This list, with some photos, will appear in the November issue of The Linking Ring. It will be available to view in digital form or to download, on November first. We provide this list early as a service to the relatives and friends of these magicians, who brought joy and laughter to so many people during their lifetimes.

FRANK L. BRENTS
Frank Leo “Bosh” Brents, 83, of New York, New York, died September 8, 2010. He was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, but spent most of his adult life in New York City. He was a professional magician who performed throughout the world for over five decades. He was recognized as “America’s Black Magician.” His many television credits included appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Jerry Lewis Show, and even Captain Kangaroo. He was recognized as a noted dove worker, and is best remembered by the public as the Duck Magician, having vanished Geronimo the Duck for more than three decades. After he retired, he continued to teach magic at summer camps, and performed walk-around at local restaurants in the New York area. He was the founding producer of “Monday Night Magic.” Music and magic were equal loves of his. Survivors include his mother, Myrtle Brents; son Christopher; daughter Cindy (Derrek) Croney; two sisters, and many other relatives. A video of his classic act can be seen at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=85XGCVBOYoU.
PAUL CHARM

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Broken Wand for October, 2010

Here is the Broken Wand, as of September 20, 2010.  It will be published in the October issue of The Linking Ring. 

JACK H. ADAMS, JR.
The I.B.M. office has just been notified that Jack H. Adams, Jr., 66, of South Charleston, West Virginia, died August 30, 2009. He held membership number 31919, and had been a member since 1977.  He was a member of Rings 229 and 241, and also was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). Mr. Adams worked for the city of Charleston in administration, and performed magic for civic clubs and other  groups. Survivors include his wife of twenty-two years, Eileen; and sons Jeff and Michael.
ROBERT W. ALSTON
The I.B.M. office recently learned that Robert W. Alston, 72, of Laguna Niguel, California, died December 21, 2009. He held I.B.M. number 57153, and had been a member since 1997. He was a member of Ring 313 (John Fedko Ring). A graduate of Ohio State and the University of Ohio, he was a high school and junior college math teacher. Magic was his favorite hobby. Survivors include his wife of seventeen years, Gwen; daughter Vickie, son David, and two grandchildren.

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Broken Wand: JC Wagner, 8/15/10

JC WagnerJC Wagner's battle with
cancer comes to an end
By Bobby Warren

Nearly nine months after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor, J.C. Wagner's battle with colon cancer ended. The beloved bar magician died Aug. 15, 2010.

A simple announcement about Wagner's death was posted on a page on the magician's website designed to keep friends updated about his health. It read, "We are sad to announce that JC Wagner died peacefully this evening at 7:11 PM  with his family in attenance."

Magicians were visting Wagner's website before his death and leaving him messages in his online guestbook. Among them was Michael Finney. About 16 hours before Wagner died, Finney wrote his old friend, "Dear JC, What would I have done without you at Magic Island, Man we had some great times, When ever you were around, everybody had a good time, I love you J C Wagner. Thanks for everything!"

News about Wagner's death spread quickly over the Internet and Facebook.

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Guidelines to report death of a magician

Please help us to post deaths in a timely manner.   

The Broken Wand section of the IBM Portal and The Linking Ring is: (1) to pay tribute to magicians who have died, (2) to notify friends of the deaths, and (3) to archive those obituaries for historical purposes. People honored do not need to be I.B.M. members.

Broken Wand: Jerry Conklin: 3/29/10

Illusionist Jerry Conklin dies at 82

The Sturgis Journal reports Jerry Conklin, 82, a longtime illusionist in Colon, Mich., died Monday, March 29. He had been a resident of the Magic Capital since 1966.

Conklin, his wife, Shirley, and their children, Mike and Cindy, traveled throughout the United States and Canada performing a show of illusions.

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