IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR LIFE IN MAGIC
by Dennis Schick • Editor, The I.B.M. Broken Wand
May, 2008

As a members of our great fraternity, linked in fellowship with magicians all over the world, we celebrate the interest, activity and skill of performing magic that was enjoyed by those who we were privileged to share in friendship. (more...)

HARRY BERNSTEIN

Harry Bernstein, 93, of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Towaco, New Jersey, died January 2, 2008 from complications of pneumonia.  He held I.B.M. number 5761M, and was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield, noting thirty-five years an I.B.M. member.  He was a member of the Dr. Mark Horowitz Ring, 150. Formerly president of the "Knights of Magic," he performed as The Amazing Brando. He resumed his magic career after retiring as an attorney for the City of New York at age 62.  He and his wife, Dorothy, worked on several cruise lines, performing around the world, from 1976 to 1990. They also performed at venues throughout Florida, including the famous The Breakers hotel, theaters, and retirement communities. Harry and Dorothy celebrated their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary last Christmas Day.  He was the inventor of several illusions, including Brando's Impossible Rope Trick.  He is survived by his wife, daughter and son-in-law, and five grandchildren.

WILLIAM L. BROECKER

William L. Broecker, 75, of Brooklyn, New York, died June 4, 2007.  He held I.B.M. number 11802, and had been an I.B.M. member since 1987.

RICHARD H. CAMPBELL

Richard H. Campbell, 78, of Carson City, Nevada, died recently.  He held I.B.M. number 24424M, indicating he was a member of  the Order of Merlin, having been an I.B.M. member since 1971.  He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth.

IAN D. FINNAN

Ian Donald Finnan, 78, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, died December 11, 2007. He held I.B.M. number 12129, had been an I.B.M. member since 1992, and was a member of the M.A.S.E. Magic Club, Ring 28.   He received an engineering degree from the University of Alberta.  He was a professional magician for most of his adult life.  He is survived by his three children: Brian (Lena) Finnan; Jonathan (Lavonne) Finnan; and Susan (Alan) Marshall; and five grandchildren.  Broken Wand Ceremonies were performed at his memorial service, and at the regular Ring meeting.  Two wands were made by Shelby Craigen of Edmonton.  One was given to his daughter, and the other has been mounted and displayed in the Ring's regular meeting place at a local restaurant.

CLEM H. FORTNER, JR.

Clem H. Fortner, Jr., 90, of Mcdonough, Georgia, died March 14, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 9881S, and was a member of Merlin Excaliber (I.B.M. member sixty years or more), having been an I.B. M. member since 1947.  In addition to being a magician, he was a ventriloquist and a stage hypnotist.  His nickname was "Foots," and his performing name was "Fortner, the Merry Magician."  He was an Atlanta police officer for thirty years, retiring as Sergeant.  He was offered the promotion to detective several times, but he was too busy performing, as well as he was making more performing than he would have as a detective, which would have taken more time.  He referred to his home in suburban Atlanta as "The house that magic built."  His "Bill in Lemon" trick was one of his specialties, and he is credited with inspiring many other magicians, including Mark Merchant and David Ginn.  He won many magic awards over the years, and proudly displayed them in his home. 

JERRY DEAN HUGHES

Jerry Dean Hughes, 75, of St. Louis, Missouri, died March 7, 2008.  He held I.B.M. number 47122, and had been an I.B.M. member since 1991.  He was a member of Ring 1 in St. Louis.

CHARLES H. LALONDE

Charles H. Lalonde, 85, of Horseheads, New York, died March 7, 2008.  He held I.B.M. number 19431M, had been an I.B.M. member since 1963, and was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years an I.B.M. member).  He received a degree in education from Potsdam State Teacher's College, and later a master's degree.  He met his wife, Laurel, on his first teaching job, and they married in 1952.  He retired in 1986 after over 40 years of teaching elementary school. Magic was his other passion.  He performed as Ardnas, his only daughter's name -- Sandra -- spelled backwards.  He performed regularly for schools, libraries, and birthday parties.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and was Grand Knight for many years. He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Laurel; daughter Sandra (Jonathan) Jones; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

ALEXANDER H. LEWIS

Alexander H. Lewis, 87, of Santa Maria, California, died March 13, 2008.  He held I.B.M. number 45158, and had been an I.B.M. member since 1995.  He was a teacher at the Chavez School of Magic in Los Angeles, 1946-1951, and instructed such magicians as Channing Pollock, Zicarte, Ralph Pierce, Don Alan, and Neil Foster. Growing up in Hollywood, it was ironic that as a young man he had an uncanny resemblance to Clark Gable, and melted the girls as he played the part. Al served seven tours of duty in the South Pacific during World War II, when five was the standard.  He saved his entire platoon from being ambushed, and would have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, but his lieutenant was killed before he could finalize the paperwork.

Lewis was stage manager for Lee Grabel in the 1950s.  He drove the truck throughout America, whether nine-month tours or one-nighters.  Under the professional name of "The Great Alexander," he performed magic in venues throughout Southern California, and -- for the National School Assemblies in the 1960s -- all over the U.S. Before his death, Lewis wrote "Cavalcade of Mysteries," a practical and readable guide for learning magic tricks.  It is available at P.O. Box 544, Alamo, CA 94507. He was married for thirty years to his wife, Betty, who died in 2001.  He and Betty were more like parents to their grandson, Jordan, who helped raise him. 

RICK A. MACDONALD

Rick A. MacDonald, 41, of Dunlap, Illinois, died March 25, 2008.  He held I.B.M. number 41912.  He had been an I.B.M. member since 1987, and was a member of the Harold Martin Ring 48.  His professional name was "Raven," who performed magic, but was better known as a psychic hypnotist.  He performed more than three hundred shows a year throughout the United States, mainly at comedy clubs, as well as for corporate, college, and private events.  He was a registered hypnotherapist with the American Board of Hypnotherapy, and was a member of the Peoria Magicians Assembly. MacDonald is survived by his wife, Avana; his parents; and one brother.

ENRIQUE NADELA

Enrique "Burik" T. Nadela, 51, of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, died March 10, 2008, following his third stroke.  He held I.B.M. number 48883, had been a member of the I.B.M. since 1992, and was a member of The Magicians Foundation of the Philippines, Ring 322. He began his performing career as a skilled archer, and traveled as an ace archer throughout Europe and the Far East, 1972-1988. While in Europe he learned to juggle, and shifted his focus to working as a clown magician, which took him to new destinations, from Italy and Japan, to Korea and Saipan.  He worked for many major corporations, from Johnson & Johnson and McDonalds, to Coca-Cola. His love for magic led to his commitment to The Magicians Foundation (MAGFI), formed in 1990, for which he served as its president and chairman.  Through his efforts this club became I.B.M. Ring 322 in 1997.  Nadela is survived by his wife, Rosena De Mesa, three children and four grandchildren. A Broken Wand Ceremony was conducted by members of Ring 322, led by Philippine Territorial Vice President Ferdinand Flores.

KENNETH N. ZOMMICK

Kenneth N. Zommick, 68, of Las Vegas, Nevada, died March 24, 2008.  He held I.B.M. number 24961.  He had been an I.B.M. member since 1972, and was an Order of Merlin Shield awardee in 2007, indicating thirty-five years as an I.B.M. member. He was born in Pennsylvania, spent most of his life in California, and had lived in Nevada since 2003.  He was a performing member of The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, since 1974.  He was a 1960 graduate of UCLA, and of the U.C. Berkeley Law School in 1964. In 1992 he was president of the Long Beach Bar Association, and was Long Beach Attorney of the Year.  He was on the Los Alamitos City Council for ten years, and was Mayor of Los Alamitos for six years. He is survived by his wife, Bobbi; a daughter and two sons; and three grandchildren.