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The International Brotherhood of Magicians

26 Feb

12 Magicians Honored in March Broken Wand

Category: Broken Wand   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

BROKEN WAND, MARCH 2015 

 

MICHAEL D. BARNES

 

Michael D. Barnes, 60, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died February 2, 2015. His I.B.M. membership number was 32853, and he had been a member since 1978. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He was an active member of Ring 103 (Norfolk, Virginia), which he served as president. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and during his high school years in Independence he became a magic student of Bob Klamm of Klamm Magic. For a time he worked on Saturdays as the demonstrator at The Earl Edwards Magic Shop in Norfolk. He, Roger Sherman and Sonny Narvarez met there regularly. About 1970 they formed a mail-order company called “The Woofle Dust Factory,” to sell their original magic tricks and routines. Among these was Mike’s “Three Hand Monte” and “Pulsating Symbols.” He was a part-time professional magician who loved to bring joy and wonder to other people, and to mentor young magicians. He earned degrees from the University of Kansas and Virginia Tech (in architecture). He worked at Warner-Barnes Associates in Virginia Beach before founding his own company, Barnes Design Group. He designed and built over four hundred and fifty churches throughout the East Coast. He also was a poet, and sportsman.

 

ROBERT E. CHADWICK

 

Robert Edmund Chadwick, 79, of Tarrant, Alabama, died December 29, 2014. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1964-2011). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 35 (Birmingham, Alabama). He loved magic from a young age and became a master magician. He loved mentoring young magicians. One of his students commented on his guestbook that he attributed much of his business success to Robert, giving him confidence and performance skills. He also mentioned the value in having worked side by side Robert at Mehr’s Novelty and Magic Shop in downtown Birmingham for several years. Survivors include cousins Betty Robbins and Pete Robbins, and other cousins.  

 

DEAN W. DILL

 

Dean Wayne Dill, 67, of Glendale, California, died February 7, 2015. He was a former member of the I.B.M. He was a magic effects designer who focused mostly on close-up, with a particular passion for coin magic. He created and marketed a number of effects, including “Dean’s Box,” “Blizzard,” “A New World,” “Nana’s Necklace,” “Flip It,” “Dean’s Beads,” and “Dean’s Triangle.” He appeared on the cover of The Linking Ring of the October 2003 issue. Dean learned haircutting while he was in the U.S. Navy, and became an excellent barber, as well as a magician. His place -- Dean Dill’s Shoppe -- was a favorite gathering of magicians who were in the Los Angeles area. He saved and collected hair clippings from many famous magicians from over three decades. He taught Johnny Carson magic tricks, and later appeared on his Tonight Show in 1990. Among his awards is a Creative Fellowship by the Academy of Magical Arts. 

 

RONALD H. ELLYETT

 

Ronald Harold Ellyett, 85, of Auckland, New Zealand, died recently.  His I.B.M. member number was 43231, and he had been a member since 1988. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 160 (Auckland). He developed an interest in magic as a boy and it became an important part of his entire life. He was a gracious host at meetings in his home in Pah Rd Epsom, and the large table in his dining room was the site for many magic event organizing meetings. Survivors include his wife, Rosemary, and their children. A Broken Wand Ceremony was conducted in his honor.

 

TONY GREEN

 

Tony Green died on February 5, 2015 in Ipswich, England. Before turning professional magician, he was a cabinet maker and that skill came in handy in making his own props and puppets. For many years he performed Punch and Judy shows, ventriloquism, and magic in the Clacton area. Multiple daily performances on the beach during summers led him to devise many extra interludes for his Punch shows. These were published in two books: Professional Punch, and Puppets With Punch, by The Supreme Magic Company. For a number of years he made all the puppets for Supreme. He retired from performing in the 1980s and moved to Ipswich, opening a toy and joke shop, Gags and Giggles. Condolences to his wife Rosemary, and their son and daughter.

Submitted by Quentin Reynolds

 

MICHAEL A. GRELLO

 

Michael A. Grello, 100, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, died January 24, 2015. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1997-2007). Born in Fall River, his passion for magic began early in life and led to a long and successful career as a magician. He worked for the Newport Naval Base, delivering torpedos during World War II. He performed under the name of “The Great Dantini.” Survivors include his daughters, Barbara Parant and Patricia (Bradford) Picard; eighteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904.

 

CHARLES A. HARRISON

 

Charles (Charlie) Albert Harrison, Jr., 92, of Providence, Rhode Island, died February 7, 2015. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elsie. He was a member of the Society of American Magicians. His interest in magic began in his teen years and was a passion his entire life. He enjoyed performing in a variety of venues, from private parties and shows to nightclubs, on television and for Shriners and Masonic organizations. He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees, performing in USO shows in the Philippines and China. Along with magic, Charlie performed hand shadows, balloon animals, and a traditional English Punch and Judy show. He enjoyed the laughter of children, so naturally played Santa Claus for many years at his church. He was an active member of several community theater groups over the years. He worked for Gorham, and in a variety of other positions over the years, including salesman, traffic manager, and jewelry expeditor. Survivors include his wife, Toni; children Louise (Mark) Joyce, Cynthia (George) Ottilige, Kath Whelan, Timothy Whelan, and Lindsay Harrison with Jamie Jacques; sister Madelyn Graham; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews.   

 

RENE LAVAND

 

Rene Lavand, 86, of Tandil, Argentina, died February 7, 2015 from a respiratory ailment. Born in Buenos Aires as Hector Rene Lavandera, he adopted the shortened name as his performing name and it was known throughout the world. When he was nine year old, he lost his right hand in a car crash. For him to have become a world-class magician with only one hand is truly a marvel. He said he  had to learn magic on his own since there were no instructions for a one-handed magician. He made his professional debut in 1960 after winning a contest. His unique skills earned him appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, among others. His signature line was, “It cannot be done any slower,” as magicians and audiences alike tried to watch his deliberate one-handed moves. Among other things, he hosted his own television shows, was a professional actor, toured the world giving master classes and seminars, and collected walking canes. He adapted a train wagon into a magic saloon, where he taught magic. He published a book of memoirs, “Shuffling Memories,”  and co-authored with Richard Kaufman, the book, “Mysteries of my Life.”

 

DOROTHY L. LONG

 

Dorothy Lee Long, 62, of Coupeville, Washington, died January 11, 2015. Her I.B.M. membership number was 44436, and she had been a member since 1989. She was a proud member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). She was born in Los Angeles. She was a graduate of Brad Burt’s School in San Diego, California. Survivors include her husband of nearly forty-four years, Terry; and a sister, Barbara Shultz.  

 

HUGH D. MCVEAGH, JR.

 

Hugh Dominic McVeagh, Jr., 86, of Frederick, Maryland, died January 7, 2015. He held I.B.M. member number 22789 since 1969. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 94 (Hagerstown, Maryland), and was a former member of Rings in Washington, D.C. and Norfolk, Virginia. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he held a variety of jobs before joining the U.S. Army in 1945 and serving in the Philippines. After his discharge he went to school in Chicago to learn the printing trade. In Washington, D.C. he worked for the Government Printing Office, and the Atomic Energy Commission, retiring in 1984. His life-long love of magic included appearances at The Magic Castle, and The National Institutes of Health (NIH). It was his shows for and teaching magic to terminally ill children at the NIH which meant the most to him. His magic classes were considered part of the students’ recovery therapy. One of his students was Teddy DeVita, “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.” Survivors include his three children, Bruce (Belinda), Steven (Lori) and Kathleen (Tony) de la Paz; and ten grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to The Children’s Inn at NIH, 7 West Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814-1509.  

 

DARRYL R. NORMAN

 

Darryl Richard Norman, 60, of Hagerstown, Maryland, died January 7, 2015. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (2011-2013). Born in Alexandria, Virginia, he grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia. He worked in construction and was a talented magician. Survivors include his three brothers: Dale (Joyce), Doug (Linda), and Duane (Kathy); seven nieces and one nephew. Memorial contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 5272 River Road, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20816.  

 

JOSEPH A. WARD

 

Joseph Andrew Ward, 82. of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, died January 9, 2015. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1998-2010). He was a jack or all trades, inventor and adventurer. At an early age he moved to Churchhill, Manitoba, where he became a fisherman and owner of a dog shed team. He became a machinist, volunteer fireman, square dance caller, carpenter, prospector, magician, and “Santa Joe.” He worked for Finning Tractor as the supervisor of maintenance, retiring in 1997. Survivors include his son Brent (Nancy), daughter Bev (Randy) Young, and grandchildren, Miles and Clint Lacey, Tara and Jaz Young, and Hayley and Sami Ward. 

 

END

 


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