IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR LIFE IN MAGIC
by Dennis Schick • Editor, The I.B.M. Broken Wand

BROKEN WAND FOR OCTOBER 2008

ROBERT A. BROWN

 Robert A. “Bob” Brown, 72, of Davenport, Iowa, died August 26, 2008 following a lengthy illness. He was a member of Ring 11. His body was donated to the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy.
 Bob’s vocation was broadcasting, but his passion was magic and illusion. He worked both in radio and television, once starring as “Judge McCauley” in the popular locally produced television program, Tell It to the Judge.
 He worked in Davenport for three years as part owner of a magic shop, Presto Place, in Davenport, and then moved to Chicago and worked for Magic, Inc. Bob was an accomplished entertainer who thrilled many audiences with his magic, hypnotism, and mentalism shows. He shared his love of magic by teaching and lecturing, and many of his former students are now full-time magicians.
 Survivors include his son, Harold (Marty); a daughter, Janis (Steve) Shank; four sisters; six grandchildren; one great granddaughter; three brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces and nephews.

ALEXIS DAVIDUK

 Alexis Daviduk, 80, of Pennington, New Jersey, died recently. He held I.B.M. number 29133 and was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years of continuous membership), having joined in 1975.


JOSEPH F. ELLIOTT

 Joseph F. Elliott, 94, of Pembrokeshire, Wales, died August 2, 2008. He joined the I.B.M. in 1948 and held membership number 10414. Mr. Elliott was a member of British Ring 25, and was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years of continuous membership).

LEONARD FRANK

 Leonard Frank, 87, of Rockville, Maryland, died July 23, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 31176, was a member of Ring 21, the Carl Fleming Ring, and was a member of the Order of Merlin (over twenty-five years of continuous membership).
    Mr. Frank worked in a variety of fields over the years, including advertising, sales, and distribution. He and his wife moved to New York mainly because they needed a school that would accept their hearing-impaired child, Steven.
    Frank’s interest in magic began at a very young age, and he eventually joined the Manhattan chapter of the I.B.M., Ring 26. He later served the Ring as president for two years. In addition to magic, he was an avid ham radio operator.
     In 1985, he moved west and settled in Studio City, California, continuing his interests in magic and ham radio.]
    A Broken Wand ceremony was held at the Ring’s August meeting.
                            Gerry Schiller

ALVIN GOODMAN

 Alvin Goodman, 80, of Pinecrest, Florida, died January 7, 2008, after a brief illness. He held I.B.M. number 13246, was a member of the Syd Bergson Ring 45, and was a member of the Merlin Shield (over thirty-five years as a continuous member). He was a founder of the Pinecrest Magic Club.
    A native of Baltimore, Maryland, his parents were native Russian immigrants. He bought his first magic trick at the age of nine, against his parents’ wishes, igniting a passion that never waned for the next seventy years. He was a National Boxing Commissioner and judge who taught Mohammad Ali how to make a silk disappear with a thumb tip.
    After serving in the U.S. Army, he earned a law degree from the University of Miami. There he met his first wife, Carol, with whom he had four children. He had a distinguished legal career, including appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court on a hijacking case.
    In 1973 he married Dorian “Rusty” Bays, who survives. Also surviving are his children Larry (Linda), Don (Lisa), Cheryl, and Laila (Barry); a brother and two sisters; nine grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.


BRO. DANIEL J. KENNEDY

    Bro. Daniel J. Kennedy, 79, of Fairfield, Ohio, died January 11, 2008. He held I.B.M. membership number 35715, was a member of The Universe Ring 2100, and was a member of the Order of Merlin (over twenty-five years of continuous membership). He joined the I.B.M. in 1980.

ROGER WILLIS KLAUSE

    Roger Willis Klause, 70, of Borger, Texas, died August 30, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 17347, was a member of Ring 39, the Bob Blau Ring, and was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (over thirty-five years of continuous membership).
    Mr. Klause started his interest in and serious study of magic at the age of nineteen and quickly set himself apart from others by developing an uncanny skill in the art of sleight-of-hand magic. His reputation grew throughout the country, then throughout the world, as he was widely sought as a lecturer and performer. At one point he was dubbed, “The Leader of the Underground,” signifying his importance in the world of magic. He shared his talents and knowledge with hundreds of magicians for more than fifty years, influencing many magicians who are proud to have called him friend and mentor. He also was a prolific author of magic articles and lectures notes, and a book, In Concert.
    Survivors include his wife of fifty-three years, Wanda (Borger City Manager); a son, Kevin; two daughters, Shari, and Keri (Tuxie); two brothers; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.


GEOFFREY K. LATTA

    Geoffrey “Geoff” Keith Latta, 51, of New York City, died August 19, 2008.
    Serious sleight-of-hand aficionados knew of Geoff’s remarkable work with coins and cards. Geoff had a touch, where every move was mechanically perfect and seemed without effort. For Geoff, every knuckle-busting sleight seemed to have come without work, practice, or rehearsal. Not true. Geoff was relentless. He would work and rework a routine, tearing apart the construction and the handlings, looking for the transitions and tempos that would make it as natural and powerful as possible. Only then would he perform it.
    Geoff was self-taught in magic. As a boy, sometimes he would practice hours and hours on end. Later he conducted numerous seminars on sleight-of-hand, including throughout the country, and in Japan.
    Not many people in the magic community knew that Geoff was an artist. He had the same commitment to mastering design on the Mac that he did in mastering magic. He was a computer consultant and a graphic designer for several advertising, publishing, and graphic arts companies. Geoff had a superb eye for design. He drew the cover for Peter Samelson’s book, Theatrical Close-Up and created several images for Peter.
    Geoff was forever designing pictures with Cups and Balls, cards, coins, close-up pads, etc., with such detail that it was staggering to behold. He will be remembered for his magical brilliance. He will live on in the few books and DVDs that were fortunate enough to capture a rare appearance, and with Stephen Minch’s forthcoming magic book on Geoff's creations, he will receive more prominent recognition beyond the inner circle.
    Survivors include his mother, Corinne; daughter, Viveca; partner Juliet La Guardia; and sister Cassie Stratton.
                                                                                Hal Meyers

GORDON DEAN OSBOURN

    Gordon Dean Osbourn, 59, of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, died unexpectedly of a sudden brain aneurism, December 3, 2007. He held I.B.M. membership number 44423, and had been a continuous member of the I.B.M. since 1989.
    A native of Kansas City, he lived in Portland, Oregon; Cleveland, Ohio; and Long Valley, New Jersey, before settling in Pennsylvania. After military service in the U.S. Army in Italy, he graduated from Purdue University with a degree in chemistry, as well as an M.B.A. He worked in sales and marketing over the years and was a nationally ranked chess player.
    He is survived by his wife Candy, daughter Amy (Chris) Perniciaro, grandson Dominic, his mother, and a sister.

RICHARD T. POST JR.

    Richard T. Post, Jr., 73, of West Paterson, New Jersey, died recently. His I.B.M. membership number was 51489. He was a member of Ring 106, Pyramid Garden State; as well as the Audley Walsh/Conrad C. Bush Ring 113. He was a member of the I.B.M. since 1994.


CHRISTOPHER LESLIE PRATT

    Christopher L. Pratt, 60, of Herts, United Kingdom, died August 11, 2008. He earned the designation of MIMC by The Magic Circle. He was a past vice president of The Magic Circle and was the group’s Honorable Secretary for over twenty years.
    A distinguished lawyer by profession, he rose to become a district judge, and The Magic Circle benefited from his legal background. A polished magic performer, he was especially renowned for his ability to spring shuffle a pack of cards, stopping at any named card. Pratt teamed up with Brian King, performing as “Baskerville and King,” for several years, and they were in wide demand.
    As the Public Events Director of The Magic Circle, he organized their annual Christmas Show, and the highly successful “Meet the Magic Circle” events of the club. Chris’s devotion to The Magic Circle was matched by his wife, Jill, who survives him.

LEWIS LEROY “LEE” SNYDER

    Lewis Leroy “Lee” Snyder, 58, of Kearney, Nebraska, died March 27, 2008 in Omaha. He held I.B.M. number 35014 and was a member of the Order of Merlin (over twenty-five years of continuous membership), having joined the I.B.M. in 1979.
    He earned a B.A. from Kentucky Christian College, an M.A. from Southwest Missouri State, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He ministered with Christian churches in Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, and Nebraska. He also taught at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and was serving as a professor in the Department of Communication at the time of his death.
    Also a writer, Mr. Snyder wrote the three-volume work, The Book of Acts According to Alexander Campbell, Just Like Magic (Magic, Inc.), and Pleasing Deceptions and Subtle Fictions.
    Mr. Snyder’s interest in magic began when he was in his teens. His parents patiently endured his hours of practicing his Linking Rings night after night in his bedroom, directly over their bedroom. He continued performing throughout college, and for the rest of his life particularly enjoyed performing for children.
    Survivors include his wife of thirty-eight years, Vicki, and one sister, Sharon Hubbard. Vicki wrote: “When our niece was not much more than a baby, Lee "pulled" a cherry from her ear. She still remembers it. After she found out Lee had died, she was troubled. A short while later, she went to her father (my brother) and said there were other little girls in heaven who needed cherries pulled out of their ears. Wow!”

 
PETER WILLIAMS

    Peter Williams, of Hillcrest, South Africa, has died unexpectedly from a heart attack. He was a member of The Magic Lodge of South Africa, and was a past president of the club. His wife, Sandy, survives.