The I.B.M. Blog & Articles

The International Brotherhood of Magicians

04 Apr

14 People Honored in April Broken Wand

Category: Broken Wand   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

 BROKEN WAND APRIL 2018


DAVID M. BRAHINSKY


David Morris Brahinsky, 59, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died December 7, 2017. His I.B.M. member number was 39793, and he had been a member since 1984. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous I.B.M. member), Ring 90 (Albuquerque, New Mexico), and Ring 23 (Cleveland, Ohio). His performing names were David Allen and The Mysterious Allen. He was a magician, writer, publisher, and magic manufacturer. One of his many interests was refurbishing old magic props. He also made very nice magic wands, which were sold in the local magic shop. Two of his better-known creations were “Nu Way Rope Thru Body” and “Pharaoh’s Conundrum.” He was a magic consultant to other professional magicians. In addition to magic, he loved all things Sci Fi, especially Star Trek and Star Wars.

 

DONALD J. ESPOSITO

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters Office learned that Donald (Don) J. Esposito, 80, of Mentone, Alabama, died January 24, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 17745. He had been a member since 1970 (forty-seven years). He also was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). Born in Hempstead, New York, he began his life-long love of mage at age ten when his father gave him a magic set. As a young adult he entered Pratt Institute to study commercial art, but dropped out to pursue magic professionally full time. Shortly after that he married, and had children. Not wanting to be away from his family, which performing would require, he took up building magic, and that became his lifetime passion. He opened a magic shop in Rockville Centre, New York, and later in Brandon, Florida. At both shops he offered magic lessons, and mentored hundreds of young people. He purchased Petrie and Lewis and manufactured its full line of products, as well as developing his own brand under the name Magic Workshop. Later, after selling P&L he moved the Magic Workshop to Mentone, Alabama where he continued building until his health declined. He left an extensive library of magic books, pamphlets, and magazines, as well as a shop full of magic apparatus. Survivors include his ex-wife, Barbara; and children Richard, Joanne, and Steven, and their families. Memorial contributions may be made to the I.B.M. Endowment and Development Fund, 13 Point West Blvd., St. Charles, MO. 63301.

 

SCOTT J. HAZELRIGG

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters Office learned that Scott J. Hazelrigg, 55, of Escondido, California, died June 9, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 46478. He had been a member since 1990. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 292 (Carlsbad, California). Survivors include his wife, Jeannette, who called in the notice of his death.

 

JAMES E. HOY

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters Office learned that Dr. James E. Hoy, 84, of Marietta, Ohio, died February 24, 2017. His I.B.M. member number was 20143, and he had been a member since 1965 (fifty-two years). He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 197 (Marietta, Ohio). He practiced ophthalmology from 1966 to 1990 (twenty-four years). In addition to magic, he loved literature, traveling, reading, and teaching. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Nancy; daughter, Sarah (Richard) Gottlieb; sons Robert (Cindy), and David (Shelley); seven grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

 

JAMES E. MALONEY


James (Jim) Edward Maloney, 90, of Cheektowaga, New York, died February 18, 2018. He held I.B.M. number 52984 since 1996 (twenty-two years). He also was a member of Ring 12 (Buffalo, New York), and the Society of American Magicians. He was a past president of RIng 12, and wrote Ring Reports for The Linking Ring for twelve years. He began performing magic at the age of ten in Syracuse, New York. When his family moved to Buffalo, New York, he became good friends of other magicians, including Gene Gordon and Harvey Van Buskirk, who christened him “Malo the Magician.” For nearly eight decades he performed and promoted magic wherever he went. He often created and built his own illusions. He was a proud U.S. Navy veteran, serving in both World War II and the Korean War. A technician for Union Carbide/Linde Division, he retired in 1984. One of his favorite possessions was his MG automobile, which he referred to as “The Green Banana.” Survivors include his sons, James (Karen) and Joseph (Tabitha), and daughter, Rosemary; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Lawrence Church, 1520 E. Delavan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215.   

 

LAWRENCE MILLER


Lawrence Miller, 93, of Pennsylvania, died February 26, 2018. He was a former member of the I.B.M. and the Society of American Magicians. He graduated from West Point in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He helped advance rocket technology for military and space exploration. He retired in 1985 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He then embarked on a rewarding career as the Director of Marketing and then the Executive Director of Phillips Laboratories, traveling the world to secure funds for major scientific advancements. He was a lifelong student of magic. He collected magic antiques and attended magic conventions over fifty years. He also loved to restore sports cars, including his Jaguar, Thunderbird, Porsche and Lancia. He loved the arts and collected rare art and crafts from around the world. He also loved to travel, even after retiring, camping in China and Tibet, to Europe, and beyond. He is survived by his children, Alison Kovalchik, Christopher, Jeffrey, Robyn Musanya, Richard Meltzer, and Barry Meltzer; and five grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 600 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

 

ROSELYNNE J. PETERS


Roselynne June Peters, 77, of Lowell, Michigan, died February 20, 2018 of cancer. She was an active member of Ring 211 (Grand Rapids, Michigan), attending Ring meetings with her husband, Leo, and even doing face painting at the Ring’s annual Hocus Pocus Parties. Survivors include her husband of fifty-six years, Leo; children Dale (Rose), Renee, Gregg (Katie), and Dawn (Jesse) Lozier; brothers Floyd (Donna) Stahl, Jr., Darryl (Sharon) Stahl, and Larry (Arlene) Stahl; thirteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Pink Arrow Pride, P.O. Box 246, Lowell, MI 49331.

 

WAYNE M. ROGERS

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters Office learned that Wayne Murray Rogers, 72, of  New Zealand, died November 5, 2017 after a long illness. His I.B.M. member number was 39560. 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 160 (Auckland, New Zealand), which is named after him. Born in Wellington, he saw a magician perform in his school when he was a boy, and magic became a life-long passion. He read all the magic books he could find, such as Dunninger’s “Magic Tricks.” Before the Internet and DVDs, his creative mind cranked out original ideas, one after another. He was the cover story for Paul Romhany’s “Vanish” magazine (March 2017), entitled “New Zealand’s Renaissance Man of Magic.” Romhany gives Rogers full credit for his own magic career successes, as both a mentor and an inspiration. Rogers created his own effects, such as Percy the Penguin, and built many illusions, such as Zig Zag, Visible Sawing, and Chair Suspension, from Robert Harbin’s book. He also built scenery and props for local theater companies and for television sets. After seven years in broadcasting, he quit to become a full-time magician. In 1995 he created an “Appearing Shovel” for McDonald’s Road Show, and it led to the successful production of a long line of appearing products (pole, ladder, broom, hat stand and even a parking meter). He wrote a book about them, “Out of the Pole Vault.”  He was the husband of Elizabeth; father of Cerdin and Felicity; father-in-law of John; grandfather of Leo; and brother of Ian, Jill, and Keith. 

 

RICHARD E. SPAINHOUR


Richard Errol Spainhour, 79, of Clemmons, North Carolina, died March 8, 2018. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1961-1986). He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a charter member of Ring 199 (Raleigh, North Carolina). He served in the U.S. Army, and retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company after thirty-five years. He had a passion for magic and loved performing for children and families. Over the years he brought smiles and laughter to several generations. He was both humbled and honored to have performed at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, California. He is survived by his wife, Nanette; children, John (Sue), Jeff (Jennifer), and Jo Anna (Jimmy) Nifong; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; and brother, Ronald. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 5000 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104.

 

DANIEL S. STERLING


Daniel S. Sterling, 90, of Great Neck, New York, died November 5, 2017. His I.B.M. membership number was 56440, and he had been a member since 1996 (twenty-one years). He also was a member of Ring 244 (New York, New York), and Ring 317 (Suffolk County, New York). One source said he performed as “Magic Dan” and “Houdanny.”

 

VINCENT V. SUPPAN


Vincent V. Suppan, 97, formerly of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, died January 26, 2018 in hospice in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His I.B.M. member number was 22235, and he had been a member since 1968. He was a Lifetime Member of the I.B.M., and was a member of the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 32 (Allentown, Pennsylvania), the Society of American Magicians, and the Magicians’ Alliance of Eastern States. He graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in Music Education and from Columbia University with a M.A. in Speech and Drama. He taught English and Math for five years, then was a speech teacher for seventeen more, retiring in 1981. He also was an Associate Professor of Speech Pathology at West Chester University. He was a member of the Catasauqua Band since 1934, and conductor for sixty-five years (1947-2013). He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. After his discharge in 1945, he served in the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Colonel, retiring in 1980. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 122 W. Union, Catasauqua, PA 18032, the Catasauqua Band, or the Neighborhood Hospice, West Chester, PA, c/o the funeral home, www.brubakerfuneralhome.com.

 

KENNETH G. THOMAS


Kenneth G. Thomas, of Essex, England, died recently according to Alan Clarke in the Ring 25 magazine. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1948-1952). He was a member of the Ipswitch Society and was a strong supporter of the Ring 25 Annual Convention, with his late wife, Pam. 

 

LAIRD A. WILCOX IV


Laird Anthony Wilcox IV, 55, of Kansas City, Missouri, died January 25, 2018. His I.B.M. membership number was 64217. He had been a member since 2003. He was a Life Member of the I.B.M. He also was a member of Ring 129 (Kansas City, Missouri). According to Ring 129’s Steve Steiner, Laird loved cards, and did something with cards at nearly every Ring meeting. He also wrote a card article each month for the Ring newsletter.

 

CHARLES E. WINDLEY


Charles (Chuck) Ellis Windley, 75, of Williamsburg, Virginia, died December 16, 2017 of cancer. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1956-1983). He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He had a colorful and wide-ranging career as a professional magician. He grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, where his grandfather introduced him to magic at age nine when he took him to Earl Edward’s Edmar Magic Shop in Tidewater. He put together a magic show and performed at churches, civic groups, and the USO. Later he worked at Hubert’s Dime Museum in New York City, on the sideshow circuit, and for the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus. He then went out on his own, performing at shopping malls for fourteen years, cruise ships for ten years, and then opened his own magic shop -- “Magic and More ‘’ -- for almost twenty years. From there he published a monthly eight-page magazine, “Backstage,” in which he serialized his life adventures.  He also wrote a best-selling book for teachers, “Teaching and Learning with Magic.” No obituary was published. A Broken Wand service will be held in Colon, Michigan in August. A three-page feature tribute to him was in the March issue of The Linking Ring, including seven illustrations.

 

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