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The International Brotherhood of Magicians

24 Apr

11 People Honored in May Broken Wand

Category: Broken Wand   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

 BROKEN WAND -- MAY 2018

 

 

HARRY L. ANDERSON


Harry Laverne Anderson 65, of Asheville, North Carolina, died April 16, 2018. He was best known for his role as Judge Harry Stone on the television series “Night Court,” (1984-1992), and for his recurring role as the lovable conman Harry “The Hat” Gittes on “Cheers.” He also starred in the television show “Dave’s World,” 1993-1997, based loosely on the life of humor columnist Dave Barry, and was a guest on many television shows, including twelve times on “The Tonight Show.” Born in Newport, Rhode Island, he was drawn to magic in his youth. After moving to California, he continued to add to and practice his magic skills. He made money as a street magician in San Francisco, including three-card monte. Later, he said he gave up monte after he got punched in the face. He continued with magic the rest of his life, including touring with comedy/magic shows, and “Harry Anderson’s Sideshow” in 1987. He wrote a book with Turk Pipkin, “Games You Can’t Lose: A Guide for Suckers,” (1989), a collection of gags, cons, tricks, and scams. Later he moved to New Orleans, and with his second wife, opened a small shop in the French Quarter, “Sideshow,” selling magic and other curiosities. Later he and his wife opened a nightclub, “Oswald’s Speakeasy” where he performed a one-man show, “Wise Guy.” In 2006, after hurricane Katrina, they moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where he died. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth, and two daughters. 

 

MALCOLM L. BEARD


Malcolm Leroy Beard, 86, of Newport, North Carolina, died March 25, 2018. Born in Kinston, he worked for twenty years for U.S. Phosphoric. While living in Tampa, Florida, he developed a life-long interest in bodybuilding and held the title of “Mr. Tampa” in bodybuilding in his 30s. After moving back to North Carolina he worked twenty years with Crown Oil Company, and then for the Leon Mann Jr. Enrichment Center in Morehead City. He enjoyed teaching, mentoring and performing magic. Survivors include his wife of forty-four years, Doris; children: Richard (Amy), James (Jo Anna), Rebecca (William) Knight; Joshua, William, and Harley; brothers Ray and Buddy; eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Crystal Coast Hospice House, P.O. Box 640, Newport, NC 28570.

 

PETER M. ELZ


Peter Michael Elz, 76, of Brick, New Jersey, died August 27, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 26275, and had been a member since 1973 (forty-four years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of the Society of American Magicians. Born in Eilsleben, Germany, he moved to the United States in 1964. He worked as a mason, and owned Delux Masons of Brick. He was an active member of numerous clubs for things he was passionate about, including soccer (coach, referee, instructor, administrator), and magic. His love of magic came with him from Germany. He performed magic everywhere, including as a family. True to his German heritage, he was active in several German clubs. Survivors include his children, Gabriele (Walter) Garner, Susanne (William) Faro, and Peter; and three grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 1411 K Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 2005.

 

JOHN N. HOLCOMB


John Norton Holcomb, 75, of Branson, Missouri, died April 12, 2018. He was a former member of the I.B.M. He was a member of Ring 325 (Branson, Missouri). Born in Salina, Kansas, he served in the U.S. Navy and Marines during Vietnam. He owned and operated his own HVAC repair company. He loved close-up magic and was always ready when asked to do a trick including wearing rubber bands on a wrist so he would be ready when asked. He worked part time as a demonstrator at the local magic shop. But he did such a good job selling that the owners asked him to slow down, that he was selling tricks faster than they could be ordered. John laughed and said they were lucky they were paying him by the hour and not on commission. Survivors include daughters Patty Bixler and Kathy Cooper; sons John Dooley and Thomas; brothers Grant and Walter; thirteen grandchildren; and twenty-three great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the DAV, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, or Unity of Springfield, 2214 E. Seminole, Springfield, MO 65804.

 

DONALD J. HOLZMAN


Donald J. Holzman, 86, of Amherst, New York, died August 17, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 8677, and he had been a member since 1946 (seventy-one years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member). Born in Buffalo, New York, he was an attorney, specializing in tax law. He earned degrees in economics and law from the University of Buffalo, and another from the New York University School of Law. He practiced law at two different law firms, as well as his own until retiring in 2015. He wrote extensively on tax and corporate law. In addition to magic, he loved to travel, especially trips to Europe. Survivors include a daughter, Annette Fitch.

 

BETTY LOU IKENBERRY


Betty Lou Ikenberry, 83, of Baxter Springs, Kansas, died March 14, 2018. Born in Niagara Falls, New York, she grew up in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, Canada. At age sixteen, she joined the Royal American Show, traveling from state to state throughout the United States. As a magician’s assistant, her role was to help entertain the audience with the illusions. But she also had to help with ticket sales, collect money, etc. She spent four years traveling with the show, which wintered in San Antonio, Texas. At the age of twenty, she left the show, got married and moved to Kansas. There she was active in the community while raising a family. Preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, she is survived by sons Harold, Larry, and Wayne; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

 

STEPHEN H. LONG


Stephen Harry Long, 69, of Beallsville, Pennsylvania, died January 21, 2018 from a massive hemorrhagic stroke while visiting his daughter, Stacey, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was a former I.B.M. member. He was known widely for his clown character, Peachey Keene, and for his Peachey Keene Props, popular foam creations. He was an Operating Engineer until he started selling clown and balloon supplies in 1979, and then went into clowning full time in the early 1980s. He started his prop business about 1983. In addition to making props for the clown and magic worlds, he also made props for movies and television shows, such as Modern Family and Batman Forever. He won many awards at clown conventions throughout the country, for both skits and makeup. In addition to his love for all things clown, he had many other interests, including  hunting, fishing, skiing, Tae Kwon Do, traveling (especially to Hawaii and national parks), NASCAR, watching movies, and supporting a local haunted house (Castle Blood). Survivors include his daughter, Stacey (Mark) Kuhn; and his grandchildren, Erin (Shusuke) Aihara, and Shannon (Alex) YBarra. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Clown Academy (www.aca18.com). Having fallen off a mobility scooter during an outing while visiting his daughter in Hawaii, she asked him his name. Before slipping into a coma, from which he did not recover, he smiled and replied, “Puddin Tame,” joking right up to the end.

 

TUCKER MATZEK


Tucker Matzek, 91, of Lombard, Illinois, died July 20, 2017. His held I.B.M. member number 27472 since 1974 (forty-three years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 43 (Chicago, Illinois). He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving in World War II. He earned B.S., M.S., and M.B.A. degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He was a retired electrical engineer, working for Motorola, Zenith, and other companies. In addition to magic, he loved playing the banjo. Survivors include his wife, Patricia; children, Paula Matzek, Elizabeth (James) Boaz, and Peter (Salete); sister, Martha Kirchman; and fourteen nieces and nephews.

 

JAMES NAGEL


James (Jim) Nagel, 66, of Ballwin, Missouri, died April 16, 2018. His I.B.M. member number was 31861, and he had been a member since 1977 (forty-one years). He was a Lifetime member of the I.B.M., and was a member of Ring 1 (St. Louis, Missouri). Throughout his life he was passionate for magic, and was the I.B.M. International President, 1992-93. Born in St. Louis, he grew up in Affton, Missouri. He earned a social studies teaching degree from Southeast Missouri University. There he played in the Golden Eagles Marching Band, even playing in the 1971 Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. He taught social studies in Mehville, Missouri, establishing the largest student activities program in the country at the high school. He brought to campus such celebrities as David Copperfield, Clayton Moore (The Lone Ranger), and Ozzie Smith, to showcase positive role models. In 1985 he left teaching to become an association manager. He worked for the Missouri Association of Homes for the Aging, then the American Soybean Association, the Equipment Dealers’ Foundation, and finally Optimist International, where he developed a marketing strategy which increased membership for the first time in sixteen years. In addition to magic, he loved traveling, Disney World, music, and reading. He attended the “Disney Approach to People Management” training course in Orlando. Survivors include his wife of twenty years, Bonnie; and their two daughters; and grandsons Cole and Luke. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Hydrocephalus Association, 4340 East West Highway, #905, Bethesda, MD 20814-4447.

 

MEYER PAPERMASTER


Meyer Papermaster, 88, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died October 18, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 18416. He had been a member since 1961 (fifty-six years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years a continuous member). Survivors include his children, John (Chaya), George (Lori), and David (Janna); grandchildren, Yaakov (Tamar) and Sara Liba Tolwin, Sheina (Gabe) Tolwin Kopdtein, Bassi, Mirian, Devorah, Samuel, Jesse, Ari, and Izabella; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Ohr HaTorah Synagigue or Yad Exra V’Shulamit charity.

 

DONALD G. THEOBALD


Donald Gene Theobald, 89, of Melrose Park, Illinois, died January 14, 2018. His I.B.M. member number was 31270, and he had been a member since 2016. Born in Flora, Illinois, he loved the circus as a kid. He got his first magic kit at age ten and never looked back. Both were his passions the rest of his life, as he made people laugh wherever he went. He performed for churches and elsewhere by age eleven. At age twenty-one he moved to Chicago with a new bride, and worked as a manager of Hornsby’s, at the state mental hospital, and at The Treasure Chest (a magic store and arcade), and finally as Chief Maintenance Engineer at O’Hare Airport (where he retired after twenty-seven years). Known professionally as “T-Bone, The World’s Greatest Magic Clown,” he performed at many venues, from The Bozo Show on television, and the Auditorium Theater, to state fairs and various parks. Later, his son, Dale, had a puppet act and they often appeared together. They performed from a thirty-foot custom-made magic trailer, including a pull-out puppet stage. And he did all this while working full time and raising five children. He performed regularly until he was seventy-five. Don had a woodworking shop, and after retiring, he and his wife created and sold crafts under their business D&W Crafts at craft stores and malls. Survivors include children Terry, Rick (Pam), Dale (Elaine), and Denise (Julie Forbes); and grandchildren Tony (Maribeth), and Jennifer (Zack). 

 

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