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The International Brotherhood of Magicians

22 Sep

11 Magicians Remembered in October Broken Wand

Category: Broken Wand   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

 BROKEN WAND OCTOBER 2016 

 

STANLEY B. ADAIR

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters learned that Stanley (Stan) B. Adair, 96, of Sacramento, California, died April 18, 2016. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1957-1970). He was a member of and was given credit for founding the Fellowship of Christian Magicians. He performed as a gospel magician until the age of seventy. His working career included thirty years in sales for Vitaminerals Inc., and fourteen years as Information Officer at the CalPERS Lincoln Plaza Building in Sacramento, retiring in 2000 at the age of 81. Survivors include four daughters, Colleen Whitcombe, Karen Schanzenbach, Candy Aluli, and Kitty Vicars; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and a brother, Lee. Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International at www.sendtheword.org.

 

JACK E. ANDERSON


Jack Ernest Anderson, 80, of Jacksonville, Florida, died August 30, 2016. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1973-2012). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member (and past president) of Ring 130 (Jacksonville, Florida). Ring 130 met at his Freckles Theatrical and Clown Supplies for a number of years. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and after his discharge served in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for twenty-seven years, retiring in 1989. His passion was clowning, and he appeared as Freckles the Clown for over thirty years, using magic in his performances at birthday parties, grand openings, special events, and parades. He held office as president of three clown groups: the Clowns of America International, World Clown Association, and the International Shrine Clown Association. He lectured at clown schools and loved to try to inspire other people to be clowns. He also loved to play Santa at Christmas. Survivors include his wife of nearly three decades, Adrienne; son, Craig; step-daughter, Anissa (Darren) Wagley; stepson, Keith Glidden; five grandchildren; and brother, Terry. Memorial contributions may be made to the Restore Lakeshore Fund, Lakeshore United Methodist Church, 2346 Blanding Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32210.

 

BENNY J. BODO JR.


Benny James Bodo, Jr., 54, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died July 14, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 56508, and he had been a member since 1996. He also was a member of Ring 90 (Albuquerque, New Mexico). He earned a B.S. degree on a ski team scholarship, and a M.A. degree in Information Technology from the University of New Mexico, and worked for Presbyterian Healthcare for thirty years. His interest in magic began in his youth when he worked at a Durango, Colorado carnival. He loved to perform as “Mr. Magic” for children and family audiences. He had an extensive library of magic books and videos, and attended magic conventions throughout the country. Survivors include his daughters Brianna and Mackenzie Bodo, sister Vivian Gardner, and brother Chester.

 

JACK CARANCI

 

The I.B.M. Office recently was notified that John C. “Jack” Caranci, 71, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, died May 16, 2016. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (2011-2015). He was a member of Ring 250 (Fort Collins, Colorado). Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he earned a Ph.D. from Creighton University, and worked in information technology and security. He served in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. His professional name was “Carancini.” Survivors include his wife of twenty-five years, Lannie; two sons, Michael (Julie), and Sean; three granddaughters, Gina, Jessica, and Jill; and three brothers, David, Donald, and Stephen.

 

CARL R. EYLER

 

Carl Raymond (Ray) Eyler, 83, of Edgewater, Maryland, died August 20, 2016 of cancer. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1977-2013). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 50 (Washington, D.C.), of which he was a past president. He, with his son Lee, and Larry West, formed Key-West Productions, which produced their magic effects and published lecture notes. Ray received the highest award of Ring 50, the SABAR Award, given for unselfish service to the Ring. 

 

JOSEPH R. FLORIAN


Joseph Roger Florian, 74, of Valley Center, California, died July 31, 2016, of heart failure. His I.B.M. membership number was 44295, and he had been a member since 1989. He was member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 76 (San Diego, California), and Ring 292 (Carlsbad, California). Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he earned a degree from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, and a Ph.D. in physics from Washington University in Seattle. He did extensive research, teaching, and consulting for various firms on the West Coast. He retired from JayCor in Southern California. In addition to his science and math talents, he was also gifted in music, playing twelve instruments (but favoring piano and accordion). An accomplished magician, he also was a gourmet cook and successful gardener. Survivors include his sisters Rosemary (Bob) Wright, and Janis (Doug) Johnson.

 

ROBERT W. FOLLMER

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters was notified that Robert “Bob” W. Follmer, 84, of Rochester, New York, died March 3, 2016 from various types of cancer. His I.B.M. membership number was 13144, and he had been a member since 1993. He was a member of Ring 4 (Rochester, New York), as well as the Society of American Magicians. After serving in the Korean War, for more than forty-five years be was a professional magician and entertainer known as “The Balloon Man.” He performed at birthdays, parties, fund-raisers, and was a frequent guest on local television shows. He enjoyed mentoring young, aspiring magicians. He and his wife helped bring the Protestant Marriage Encounter movement to Western New York. He was a Hospice Chaplain for twenty-five years before retiring four years ago. Survivors include his wife of over fifty-nine years, Audrey; children Gretchen Anthony, Gary (Mary), and Andrew; grandchildren Adam (Kelly), Caleb (Rachel), and Rachel Anthony; great-grandson Micah Hunsicker; and brother-in-law Lester Adams. Memorial contributions may be made to: Aurora House, a comfort care home (www.aurorahousewmc.com), American Cancer Association (www.cancer.org), or Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation (www.mds-foundation.org).

 

ROBERT J. HEALEY, JR.


Robert J. Healey, Jr., 72, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, died June 16, 2016. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1975-2015). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 30 (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania). Until his disability, he was a bookbinder for the former Harper-Row. He was a practicing magician, performing as “Mr. Dunce” at children and adult parties and other occasions. He also built magic props. Survivors include his long-time companion, Mary Balley; Mary’s six sons (whom he considered his own), James, Timmy, Stephen, Kevin, Ricky, and Sean; sisters Louisa (Mike) Mateleska, and Brenda (Tom) Hughes; and many other nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 57 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, in memory of his mother, Florence.

 

STEPHEN J. KONZEN


Stephen John Konzen, 64, of New York, New York, died August 11, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 40014, and he had been a member since 1985. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a consecutive member). He also was a member of Ring 26 (New York, New York). He was an East Village original, affectionately called the “East Village Magic Man.” In addition to his magic, he loved to cook for other people. According to one remembrance, “Every holiday he provided tons of food to friends and strangers at The International Bar on First Avenue.” 

 

JAYNE LOUGHLAND

 

The Ring 25 monthly magazine, Key Ring, reports the death of Jayne Loughland, of North Wales. In the early 1980s she and her brother, Marc, had a children’s magic act, which included rabbits, and an illusion act with Dancing Cane, and Zig Zag. They won the I.B.M. Shield Competition in 1983. She met Stuart Loughland, married him, and introduced him to magic. They performed together as “Safire.” They toured the world on cruise ships, appeared on television, performed in over one hundred theaters, traveled with The Chuckle Brothers, enjoyed six years with the Ken Dodd Laughter Show, and performed right up to two weeks before her death. They owned the Magic Light Puppets and Production Company. She made the costumes and he made the sets for the puppets, the pantomimes and the shows.

 

EDDIE SPIEGELHALTER

 

Word has come from Ring 25’s Ian Adair that Eddie Spiegelhalter, 93, of Great Britain, died August 11, 2016. Ian said that for thirty years he was in charge of all the manufacturing of the silk-screened effects for Supreme Magic -- Farmyard Frolics, Dressing Doll, Chinese Folding Box, etc -- hundreds of items, including silk-screening on wood, such as the Super Dragon and clown tables. His company, The Atlantic Coast Studios, was based in Barnstaple, and Supreme Magic was his biggest customer over the years. Survivors include his three children: Pat, Brian, and David; and grandchildren, Kate, Rosie, and Danny.

 

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