At mid-January, 2012, we call to your attention ten magicians whose obituaries will appear in the February issue of The Linking Ring. We print them early in order for their friends and acquaintences to know of their passing.
Since this is the beginning of a new year, once again we ask that anyone who learns of the death of a fellow magician, please notify the I.B.M. Office (office@magician.org) as soon as possible so that we might publish them in The Linking Ring in a timely manner.
GEORGE W. BIEBER
George W. Bieber, 82, of Palm Harbor, Florida, died December 26, 2011. His I.B.M. membership number was 51476, and he had been a member since 1994. Survivors include his wife of sixty years, Mary, and their children, George, Mary Ann Stockstill, and William.
DANIEL B. BOURRET
The I.B.M. office recently learned of the death of Daniel B. Bourret, 54, of Horgen, Switzerland, when his membership renewal invoice was returned with the notice, “Deceased.” His I.B.M. membership number was 28948, and he had been a member since 1975. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member), which he earned in 2010. We have not been able to locate any additional information about him.
JAMES G. BUFFALOE
James Gerald Buffaloe, 82, of St. Louis, Missouri, died December 20, 2011. His I.B.M. membership number was 10163, and he had been a member since 1978. He was a member of Ring 1, the Spirit of St. Louis RIng, and Ring 16, the Society of Memphis Magicians. He also was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He received his first magic kit when he was nine years old, as a holiday gift from his mother. He quickly learned the tricks. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and worked his way through school performing his two major passions -- magic and music. In 1949 he met J.B. Bobo, and they became close friends, sharing their coin magic tricks and moves. Jim even submitted several coin tricks for Bobo’s classic coin book. Mr. Buffaloe worked as a high school choral director, and also as director of the St. Louis County Community Chorus. As a composer of music he had more than a half dozen hymns published. He also published his own coin magic book, “Buffaloe’d.” He was on the cover of The Linking Ring for June, 1985. A Broken Wand Ceremony was performed at his funeral by members of Ring One. Among survivors are his wife, Lillie; and daughter Judy.
JOHN N. DORSEY III
John N. Dorsey III, 63, of Arlington, Virginia, died January 8, 2012. He was a longtime mortgage broker, who used magic in his work. His daughter said that he was a talented magic performer, as well as a collector of antique magic props, tricks, and magic paraphernalia. She also said that he instilled a healthy interest and respect for magic performance in both her and her brother. He performed magic at occasional parties, and for his family; and his children joined him in summer magic shows during their youth. Among survivors are his children, Samantha and John, IV.; two brothers and a sister.
LEO G. HAGLUND
Leo Gunnar Haglund, 83, of Oregon, died November 25, 2011. He was a former member of the I.B.M. He was a member of the Society of American Magicians, Assembly 59, including serving three terms as president. In addition to his love of magic, he was an avid snow-skier, woodworker, swimmer, and boater. Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, Willimae (“Willie”); sons Lee and Linn and their wives, Trudy and Deby; and three grandchildren.
ELBERT B. LOCKHART
Elbert Benjamin Lockhart, 91, of Jefferson City, Tennessee, died January 11, 2012. His I.B.M. membership number was 18372, and he had been a member since 1961. He was a member of Ring 58, the Smokey Mountain Mystics; and was a member of the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years a continuous I.B.M. member). He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Prior to retiring from the Y12 Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, he served as a fabrications coordinator. Known as El Bardo, he was a well-known magician and ventriloquist in the East Tennessee area. According to friends, he was a true Southern Gentleman who loved to entertain anyone who would watch. He was always prepared to perform and never met a stranger. One of his finest moments occurred when he regularly carried a show box around with a “barking dog” inside. After milking it for all it was worth, he’d reveal a rubber hotdog. He delighted in showing his “stool sample,” and then bring out a prescription bottle with a miniature wooden bar stool. He was both a Mason and a Shriner. Survivors include his daughter, Anita (Sam) King; son Clarence “Cy” (Brenda); daughter Rita Louise; daughter-in-law Virginia Lockhart-Harrington; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters.
CHARLES LUEDKE
Charles (Chuck) Luedke, 92. of Billings, Montana, died January 6, 2012. His I.B.M. member number was 10672, and he had been a member since 1948. He was a founding member of Ring 153, the Billings Magic Society, and the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member). He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, including flying fifty-eight combat missions with the Flying Tigers. He used the G.I. Bill to attend law school and entered private practice. Later he worked in the oil and gas field. He was appointed as a district judge and served twenty years, retiring in 1986. In retirement he continued serving his community in various volunteer capacities, including as a bookbinder at the local library. Other hobbies included clock repair, metal working, and vegetable gardening. Survivors include his son Bret, daughter-in-law Ruth, a granddaughter, and two sisters.
MARK NELSON
Mark Nelson, 58, of Granada Hills, California, died January 5, 2012. His I.B.M. membership number was 66955, and he had been a member since 2007. He was a member of Ring 257, the Fantasma Ring. While he had a strong interest in and passion for magic, primarily he was a writer, stage manager, and producer. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Magical Arts (the Magic Castle), and was the long-time “Voice of the Magic Castle.” He had a highly professional voice, and it was his that you heard on all Magic Castle phone messages. Survivors include his parents, and a sister. A separate In Memoriam appears in this issue.
RUTH A. PITTS
Ruth Ann Pitts, 83, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, died December 22, 2011. Her I.B.M. number was 20251 and she had been a member since 1965. She was a member of Ring 75, the Bill Pitts Ring; and Ring 186, the Clark and Ruth Fonda Ring. She also was a member of the Society of American Magicians. A native New Yorker, she married magician Clark Fonda in 1959, and they performed as “The Fabulous Fondas” throughout the world on many cruise ships, until he died in 1998. She also was a popular solo magician, holding the unofficial title of “Goddess of Gaslight Village” in Lake George. In 2000 she married another magician, Bill Pitts (past president of the I.B.M.), and relocated to Fort Smith, Arkansas. There she continued performing, with Bill and alone (including her award-winning Linking Rings act), and was active in their church, and in the American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include her husband, Bill; four daughters: Janice Baird, Patricia Fonda, Susan Dunbar, and Jo Newall; step-children Debbie Moulton, Bill David Pitts, and Becky Barton; step-brother Bill White; seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild. A Broken Wand Ceremony was held at a Ring 75 meeting. A separate In Memoriam appears elsewhere in this issue.
RICHARD A. RESCH
The I.B.M. Office recently learned of the death of Richard (Dick) A. Resch, 71, of Fort Myers, Florida -- formerly of Saginaw, Minnesota -- January 21, 2011. His member number was 22997 and he had been a member since 1969. He was a member of Ring 129, the Heart of America Ring; and the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he worked for Kimberly Clark, and Walt Disney/Buena Vista, before spending thirty-six years in Kansas City, as an account executive, and self-employed as an owner of a Stretch & Sew Fabric Store, a candy store, and a golf driving range. Survivors at the time of his death included his wife of forty-five years, Barbara; daughter Susan (Conrad) Hjort; son David; and four grandchildren.
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