IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR LIFE IN MAGIC
by Dennis Schick • Editor, The I.B.M. Broken Wand
BROKEN WAND FOR FEBRUARY 2008
WILLIAM A. BINDING
William A. Binding, 83, of London, England, died November 23, 2007. He held I.B.M. number 63248 and was a member of the British Ring 25.
IRWIN CARL FURMAN
Irwin "Irv" C. Furman, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died December 21, 2007. He owned Philadelphia’s Hocus Pocus Magic Shop, which he opened in 1992. During more than forty years of practicing magic, Irv developed an unforgettable style, combining wit, warmth, and humor. This was evident in the many ways he practiced his craft, including the magic course he designed and taught for ten years at Temple University, in his performances at trade shows and corporate events across the country, and in the private magic lessons he gave to countless beginning magicians. He created and hand made many magic products, which he carried in his shop.
He was an authority on magic and wrote five books: Magic and the Educated Rabbit, Magic for the Klutz, Math Magic, Fun with Magic, and most recently, Amazing Irv’s Handbook of Everyday Magic. He was a motivational speaker and founder and president of Positive Communications. He was named Small Businessman of the Year by SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). The Broken Wand ceremony was performed at his funeral by Larry Schwab. He is survived by his two children, Derek and Julie, two grandchildren, and his companion for many years, Ann Spiegeland.
DAVID HART
Sergeant David Hart, son of I.B.M. member Jack Hart, was wounded in combat in Samarra, Iraq, succumbing to the wounds two hours later where he died in the Army hospital in Balad, January 8, 2008. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger extended condolences and ordered the California capitol flags at half-mast in his honor.
ROBERT HART MILLER
Robert H. Miller, 80, of Hagerstown, Maryland, died December 20, 2007. He held I.B.M. number 53007 since March 1996 and was a member of King Magic Ring number 94. Born in Berryville, Virginia, he was a 1945 graduate of Hagerstown High School and a 1948 graduate of Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He attended Johns Hopkins University for post-graduate studies.
He worked for the Maryland Division of Public Safety and Corrections as manager of the Case Management Department at the Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown. He retired in 2000 after twenty-eight years. He served three years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of Morris Frock Post 42 American Legion, Hagerstown Soccer Club, Potomac Playmakers, and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Miller was an active participant in state and local politics in the 1950s and ’60s; a 1962 candidate for election to the Maryland House of Delegates; the director of the Donable Food Program for Washington County in 1963 and 1964; an active volunteer worker with community organizations for many years (for which he received the Prudential Insurance Company’s Community Service Award in 1970); a founding member of the Washington County Cerebral Palsy Association and five-year member of its board of directors; a past member and two-term president of the board of directors of the Washington County Mental Health Association; a past member of the Hagerstown Exchange Club; and past secretary-treasurer of the Hagerstown Users Group, a local computer club.
Bob’s love of magic began in the fifth grade and lasted all his life. He regularly attended meetings when his health permitted and worked behind the scenes at several Ring shows.
He is survived by his wife of thirty-eight years, Linda Rotz Miller; two daughters, Christine M. Mazza of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Amanda M. Skjeveland of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania; two sons, Winfield H. Miller of Queenstown, Maryland, and Grant A. Miller of Hagerstown; and six grandsons and one granddaughter.
The Broken Wand Ceremony conducted by Karen James, Maryland Territorial Vice President, was attended by Ring 94 members. Karen L. James
ELMER J. NEWMAN
Elmer Newman, 89, of Decatur, Alabama, died December 29, 2007. He held I.B.M. number 20187 since 1965 and was a member of the Order of Merlin and Huntsville, Alabama's Ring 194. Elmer loved magic and performed as "Newdini.” He is survived by his wife and faithful assistant Elizabeth.
DAVID L. WINKLEY
David L. Winkley, 87, of Allawah, New South Wales, Australia, died in early January. He held I.B.M. number 14251 and was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior, a member over fifty years.
Winkley was born in England and migrated to Australia in 1953. He was one of the initial members of Sydney Ring 102 and was the last of the charter members. He was bestowed an Honorary Life Ring Membership for his untiring service to the Sydney Ring. His magic knowledge covered a broad spectrum, but his favorite was escapology. Shortly before his death, David suffered a stroke, which left him blind. His wife (married in 1939), being a nurse with high qualifications, nursed him at home. Whilst he was unknown by younger magicians, veteran magicians valued his company and knowledge, and many of them attended the simple but sincere service to pay farewell to him. Respected as a returned service man with distinction, our Broken Wand ceremony was given by Ring President Alan Sullivan. Alfred Hayes
RONALD F. ZOLLWEG
Ronald F. Zollweg, 74, of Utica, New York, died January 2, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 19435 and was a member of the Order of Merlin, indicating over twenty-five continuous years as a member. He was also a longtime attendee of the FFFF convention and performed many times at Eddie Fechter’s Forks Hotel.
At the age of fifteen, after having seen and been fascinated by many magicians, Ron found some magic books in the school library. That launched a career as a part-time professional magician than spanned more than forty-five years.
He wrote many articles and convention reviews, as well as three booklets: Commercial Card Magic, The Professional Routines of Ron Fredrick and It’s Commercial.
