GEORGE K. BARRAND

    George Kenneth Barrand, 87, of Chain Valley Bay, New South Wales, Australia, died March 10, 2009. He joined the I.B.M. in 19897 and held I.B.M. number 42759.    Originally from Scotland, Mr. Barrand was a member of the Kirkcaldy Magic Circle and the Scottish Association of Magical Societies. He began his show business career as a drummer in a dance band, but his natural aptitude for the keyboard led him to the piano accordion, which he played until his health forced him to give it up and move to the keyboard. He worked extensively as a musician and traveled with a concert troupe. His ability to perform as a magician and ventriloquist and provide musical backup for the singers made him an invaluable part of the cast.
    Migrating to Australia in 1966, he joined Ring 102 and the Parramatta Geniis and continued to work as a ventriloquist and a musician. Retired from performing full time, he moved to the central coast of N.S.W. with his wife, Phyllis, and joined the Newcastle Society of Magicians.
    Moving to Darwin to be closer to his grandchildren, he slowed down when his wife of sixty-one years died in 2007. He still performed up to four times a week until December of last year, when his health began to deteriorate.
    He is survived by his children, John, David, and Janet; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
   
RAYMOND T. BEDWELL, JR.

    Raymond Taylor Bedwell Jr., 76, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, died March 28, 2009. He had been an I.B.M. member since 1950 and was a member of The Universe Ring number 2100 and the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years of continuous membership). He was also a member of the Society of American Magicians.
    Born in New York, Mr. Bedwell graduated from the University of Dayton (Ohio) and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to teach radio and television broadcasting and head that program at Marquette University. Later, he established educational programs at St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Milwaukee. He was also an adjunct professor at Cardinal Stritch University. Mr. Bedwell owned a health care management consulting business for eighteen years, retiring in 2002.
    He is survived by his wife, Cosmina (known as Connie); children, Mark (Cheryl), Michael (Linda), David (Heidi), and Elizabeth (Gregory) Capper; five grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

PIET BOONACHER

    Piet Boonacher, 76, of the Netherlands, died February 17, 2009. He held I.B.M. number 39817, had been an I.B.M. member since 1984, and was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years of continuous membership).

GUY DRACH

    Guy Drach, 84, of North Miami Beach, Florida, died March 28, 2009. His I.B.M. number was 64635. Mr. Drach was a member of the Syd Bergeron Ring 45 and had been an I.B.M. member since 2004.

ROBERT M. GRAHAM

    Robert M. Graham, 67, of Springfield, Illinois, died September 19, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 65724, was a member of the Tri-Lakes Tricksters, Ring 325, and had been an I.B.M. member since 2005.

RICHARD H. HYLL

    Richard H. Hyll, 77, of Honor, Michigan, formerly of Marion, Ohio and St. Croix, Virgin Islands, died January 22, 2009. Holding I.B.M. number 9902, he had been a member since 1947 and was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years of continuous membership). Mr. Hyll had been involved in magic since he was eleven years old.
    A native of Dayton, Ohio, he graduated from Bowling Green State University and the Cincinnati College of Embalming. He and his wife, Julia, moved to St. Croix in 1967, where he started and ran his own funeral service and flower shop. He retired in 1989 and started an embroidery company.
    Mr. Hyll was active in the local theater, performing in many productions, and acting as master of ceremonies for bi-weekly family shows. His performing name was “Digger Dick.”
    In 2004 the Hylls moved to Michigan, and he became involved in performing at the local Senior Center, as well as being Santa, the Easter Bunny, and St. Patrick for the holidays.
    He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Julia, and two children, Sharon and Mark.

RICHARD P. LABRIOLA

    Richard P. Labriola, 88, of Havertown, Pennsylvania, died January 21, 2009. He held I.B.M. number 39213 and was a member of Ring 6, the Delaware Valley Conjurers Club. Mr. Labriola had been an I.B.M. member since 1984 and was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years of continuous membership).
    Born in Philadelphia, he was an electrician for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Conrail for more than thirty-five years before retiring in 1981. He was a well-known amateur boxer in the 1930s and 1940s. An Army veteran of World War II, he attained the rank of sergeant, serving in the Pacific Theater.
    Mr. Labriola presented “Amazing Magic with Richard” at hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, and schools. He often donated his talents to non-profit organizations.
    Survivors include his wife, Elena; stepdaughter, Marilyn Hieb; stepsons, Douglas and Edward DiToro; a sister and a brother.

SETH J. OSSINSKY

    Seth Jon Ossinsky, 42, of Daytona Beach, Florida, died March 29, 2009, during heart surgery. He held I.B.M. member number 37496 and had been an I.B.M. member since 2000. He was a member of Ring 251, Seaside Magicians, and Ring 170, the FAME/Bev Bergeron Ring.
    Mr. Ossinsky got into magic as a young man, and it was a major force in his life until the end. He performed magic, loved clowning, and even did a little acting. He worked at Daytona Magic for several years. He was in several parades in Daytona Beach as “Daytona’s No. 1 Nerd,” his character. He was featured in the newspaper a few times. He ran the local magic club, traveled throughout Florida attending magic meetings, and produced one of the Florida State Magicians’ Association magic conventions.

PALMER C. SWANSON JR.

    Palmer C. Swanson Jr., 71, of Rock Falls, Illinois, died March 13, 2009. He held I.B.M. number 50127, had been a member since 1993, and was a member of Ring 11, Quad Cities/C. Thomas Magrum Ring.
    P.C., as he was commonly called, had a life-long interest in magic, which started when he received a book on magic for his sixth birthday. He performed regularly and owned the Valley Magic and Theatre shop in Rock Falls for over thirty years, closing in 1980. The December 1993 cover of The Linking Ring showed him as Santa Claus, a role he played for many years. He and his full-grown beard were booked solid throughout the holiday season; he looked just like Santa Claus should look.
    Mr. Swanson was a man of many interests, including all things theatrical -- acting, writing, and producing plays -- and developing magic props for special effects. He also had a strong interest in the circus and its history. He loved puns and was the International Punster of the Year in 1995. He published a newsletter called “The Punster,” wrote a pun-laden column for the local newspaper, and with Richard Lederer co-authored a book of Halloween puns, Puns Spooken Here.
    He worked for General Electric as an engineer and computer expert for thirty-seven years. At the local community college, he taught computer science courses for ten.
    Surviving him are his wife, Mary; his former wife, Joan; three children, Eric (Tina), Sonja Swanson, and Mark (Yolanda); three stepchildren, Catherine (Jimmy) Smith, Nicholas (Sharon) Browne, and Christopher (Genea) Browne; eight grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and a brother and sister.
    His son, Mark, conducted a touching Broken Wand ceremony.

JEROME ZIMMERMAN

    Jerome Zimmerman, 88, of Delray Beach, Florida, died January 26, 2009. He held I.B.M. member number 16832 and had been an I.B.M. member since 1958. He was a member of Ring 150, the Dr. Mark Horowitz Ring, and the Order of Merlin Excalibur, with over fifty years continuous membership.