The I.B.M. Blog & Articles

The International Brotherhood of Magicians

28 Nov

13 People Honored in December Broken Wand

Category: Broken Wand   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

BROKEN WAND DECEMBER 2017

 

MICHAEL BAILEY


Michael Bailey, past president (1998-2003) of London, England’s Magic Circle, died November 6, 2017, according to Scott Penrose, current president. Michael played a pivotal role in helping to raise the funds required to purchase and build the first fully-owned Magic Castle headquarters, opened in 1998. He had been a professional magician since 1971, and was one of the key figures in adapting magic for the corporate market. He wrote and published his book, “The Magic Business,” as well as wrote “The Magic Circle: Performing Magic Through the Ages.” He also co-edited the centennial history, “Circle Without End: The Magic Circle, 1905-2005.” He was MIMC (with Gold Star).

 

CHARLES J. CONKLIN


Charles (Chuck) Joseph Conklin, 73, of Chesapeake, Virginia, died October 15, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 24531, and he had been a member since 1990 (twenty-seven years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 103 (Norfolk, Virginia), of which he was president five times. He developed a fascination of entertaining other people at an early age, and it became a life-long hobby. He served in the U.S. Navy, attending Underwater Demolition Training School, becoming a precursor to today’s Navy SEALs. Survivors include his wife of thirty years, G.G.; children, Cheer, and Corey; mother-in-law, Grace Bankston; and brothers-in-law and their families, Edward and Dennis Bankston. Memorial contributions may be made to the UDT-Seal Association, 1619 D. Street, Building 5326, Virginia Beach, VA 23459. 

 

MARGARET EMERY


Margaret Glenn Pruitt Emery, 99, of San Antonio, Texas, died June 8, 2017. She was a member of the I.B.M. Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). She also was a member of Ring 18 (San Antonio, Texas), and the Texas Association of Magicians. She developed an interest in performing magic when she assisted her son, Bob, with developing skills in performing magic when he was a young boy. After she retired from teaching ninth grade English for twenty-three years, she developed her own magic performing skills, and was in frequent demand as the program for local organizations. For many years she was an active band director’s wife, and she and her late husband loved to visit national parks. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth (Esther), and Duke “Bob” (Alison); four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to: Scholarship Fund, Alpha Delta Kappa-Pi Chapter at 4527 Black Oak Woods, San Antonio, TX 78249.

 

EDDIE GIBSON

 

According to the Ring 25 magazine, Eddie Gibson, 84, of Preston Lancs, England, died recently. Survivors include a brother.

 

RAYMOND J. GOULET


Raymond J. Goulet, 87, of Watertown, Massachusetts, died October 7, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 12994, and he had been a member since 1951 (sixty-six years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 122 (Boston, Massachusetts), which he helped found, and the Society of American Magicians. For forty years, he and his wife entertained audiences with illusions, mentalism, and comedy, including at the White House Easter Egg Roll, for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and on twenty-two trans-Atlantic voyages. After he retired from performing, he opened the Magic Art Studio, which included a museum, theater, meeting place for magicians, and store, where he sold magic. Among other magic pieces, he owned and displayed a huge collection of die boxes, as well as sheet music for songs played in magic shows. As a world class collector of magic, he helped found the highly respected New England Magic Collectors Association. He was profiled in The Linking Ring in 1985. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. With a long life of memories, he preserved many of them in an autobiography, “Ray Goulet: Recollections of a Renaissance Man.” Survivors include his wife of sixty-eight years, Ann; brothers Ronald, Manuel, and Richard (Nancy) Joaquim; sisters Joan Cappellucci, Pauline (Frank) Bales, Claire Butler, Eileen St. Onge, Helen Ford, Marion (Jim) Busa, Jack (Fran) Ford, Eleanor (Bill) Rooney, and Bill Studley. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org. A Broken Wand Ceremony was conducted, but instead of the wand being broken, it was passed on to Ryan Lally, his young shop assistant for the past six years. Ray planned this to happen; the legacy continues.

 

REESE E. HINSHAW


Reese Eugene Hinshaw, 85, of Galveston, Indiana, died September 21, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 27739, and he had been a member since 1975 (forty-two years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He was a truck driver for many years. He loved to perform magic for all ages. He served in the U.S. Army as a Medic. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Darlene; children Vickie Fawley, David and Cheryl, and their families; nine grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and a brother, Dale (Shirley). Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of the Nazarene, 109 W. Clinton Street, Logansport, IN 46947.

 

WILLIAM U. KAHN


William (Bill) U. Kahn, 98, of Clearwater, Florida, and formerly of Larchmont, New York, died October 18, 2017. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1981-2016 -- thirty-five years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 42 (Clearwater, Florida), and the Society of American Magicians. Born in Piqua, Ohio, he worked as a photographer for the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a pioneer in the television industry working for the Dupont television network, and then for the weekly magazine TV Guide, taking cover shots of many major stars. He left to work in advertising in New York City, becoming a pioneer in subliminal advertising. Upon retiring to Florida in 1980, he used his life-long love of magic to begin a new career in using magic to bring joy to other people, and to raise money for charity. Over the next three decades he helped raise nearly $500,000 for the local soup kitchen and other charities. For this work he received many commendations, including from one president, five governors, and many other dignitaries and groups. He was president of and active in Ring 42; taught magic to young magicians at colleges, libraries and community centers; and wrote many articles for magic publications, and for a self-published book, “Kahncepts.” Survivors include his wife of seventy-four years, Muriel; two daughters, Patty (Bernie) and Nancy; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

 

DAVID M. MCBRATNEY, SR.


David Mark McBratney, Sr., 72, of West Burlington, Pennsylvania, died October 5, 2017, after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. His I.B.M. membership number was 36350, and he had been a member since 1981 (thirty-six years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 200 (North Brunswick, New Jersey). Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. He was a plumber by trade. He loved to illustrate God’s word through gospel magic, especially using ventriloquism. In addition to magic, he loved singing, canoeing and bicycling. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; children David Jr. (Sherry), Drew, and Erin (Ibrahim) Tucel; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brother, William (Esther); brother-in-law, William Boris; and sister-in-law, Lorraine Boris. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 579 Canton, St., Troy, PA 16947; to Guthrie Hospice, 421 Tomahawk Road, Towanda, PA 18848; or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 30 South 17th St., Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

 

STANLEY ROSENTHAL


Stanley Rosenthal, 87, of Silver Spring, Maryland, died October 22, 2017, from Multiple System Atrophy. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1961-1979 -- eighteen years). He was a member of Ring 50 (Washington, D.C.), of which he was president in 1959. He is survived by his wife, Judy; his daughter, Sherri Lynn Hovermale; granddaughter, Crystal; sister Marilyn Klevit; brother-in-law, Robert (Patricia) Marks; and sister-in-law, Rosiland Rosenthal. Memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery Hospice Casey House, 6001 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville, MD 20855, or Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Dr., #100, Rockville, MD 20850.

 

RICARDO (Fantasio) ROUCAU


Ricardo (Fantasio) Francisco Roucau, 81, of Coral Gables (Miami), Florida, died October 30, 2017, of lung cancer. His I.B.M. membership number was 18593, and he had been a member since 1962 (fifty-five years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 45 (Miami, Florida), Ring 182 (Buenos Aires, Argentina, which is named after him), and the Society of American Magicians. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina,  he developed an interest in magic from a magic set given to him in 1943. From there be built a world-wide reputation as both a performer and as a magic inventor and manufacturer. As a performer, he was known as Richard Rex (1956), Ricardo “Larry” Roucau (1957), and Fantasio, since 1961, when he joined the Circulo Magico Argentino in Buenos Aires. He moved to the United States in 1961. He and his wife, Monica (who died in 2013), traveled the world, performing magic on the biggest stages. They performed on the same Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 that introduced the Beatles. The three words which are most often associated with Fantasio are “canes and candles,” which he is best known for. But he also produced an entire line of magic products, including books and DVDs. He appeared on the covers of The Linking Ring, M-U-M, Genii, The New Tops. MAGIC and other publications, and received numerous awards and honors over the years. After his wife died, Fanta (his nickname), spent most of his time in Buenos Aires, while maintaining his residence in Coral Gables, and visiting there every six months or so. Survivors include his daughter, Jackie; grandchildren, Adrian, Gabriela, and Melissa; and great-granddaughter, Valeria.

 

NICKOLAS J. SACCO


Nickolas (Nick) J. Sacco, 70, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, died October 27, 2017. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1999-2009). He was a member of Ring 17 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Ring 49 (Hamilton), and the Canadian Association of Magicians. Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, he attended both York and Niagara Universities, and became both a super salesman and manager in the food and beverage business, rising to National Sales Manager at Minute Maid (Coca Cola Ltd.). He used magic in his sales calls from coast to coast, loved to mentor young people, and never met a stranger. He was a regular invitee to the F.F.F.F. get-togethers each year. In addition to his love of sales and magic, he was an authority on Sherlock Holmes and the history of comedy, and was especially fond of old movies, good food, and great wine. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; and his brother, Michael (Diana). Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or Our Lady of the Scapular Church, 6557 Thorold Stone Road, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2J 1B2 Canada.

 

DEANNA D. SHIMADA


Deanna Doreen Shimada, 73, of Las Vegas, Nevada, died November, 18, 2017. Born in South Australia, she had a natural flair for active pursuits, including dancing, horse riding, and modeling. In 1964, while working in a theater in Adelaide, she became fascinated with a young, dynamic magician from Tokyo, Japan, named Shimada. She arranged to meet him, and they were married the following year, moving to Sydney, Australia. She became his assistant, and they traveled throughout the world, on seven continents and twenty-seven countries. She used her sewing skills to make their elaborate stage costumes. She was an important part of the Shimada Show, and was considered one of best magic assistants of her era. She came up with the name “Fickle Fire” for one effect, and collaborated with her husband on their famous Japanese Parasol and Dragon Act effects. In 1966 she gave birth to a daughter, and in 1979, a son. After over three decades together, they divorced in 1997. Since then she immersed herself in the mystical arts, including Tarot, Palmistry, Numerology, Hand Writing Analysis, Soul Retrieval, and Past Life Regression. Survivors include her daughter Lisa (now known as Luna), and son, Jason.

 

EDWARD A. SILVERMAN

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters office received notice that Edward A. Silverman, 78, of Greenlawn, New York, died July 5, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 57419, and he had been a member since 1997 (twenty-years). He performed as “Fast Eddie.”

 

END

 

 


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