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The International Brotherhood of Magicians

23 Apr

17 Magicians Honored in May 2016 Broken Wand

Category: Broken Wand   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

BROKEN WAND FOR MAY 2016

 

WILSON AUSTIN

 

Wilson Austin, 88, of Valley Center, Kansas, died March 18, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 8326, and he had been a member since 1945. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 47 (Wichita, Kansas). He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He earned a degree in Civil Engineering in 1951, and one hour later got married. He worked for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and retired in 1985. In addition to magic, he loved camping and fishing. Survivors include his children, Peggy (Gery) Swink, Scott (Susan), and Sandy (Art) Hollingshead; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

 

ERIC D. BURGESS

 

Eric D. Burgess, 50, of Burton, Michigan, died March 10, 2016. His member number was 56668, and he had been a member since 1996. He also was a member of Ring 36 (Flint, Michigan). Born in Flint, he served in the U.S. Army and was a security guard for eighteen years. Later he was a proud nursing assistant at Hurley Hospital. In addition to magic, he loved drawing, poetry, books, martial arts, and he collected swords. Among survivors are his sister, Becky, and brother, Chris; godsons Logan and Lucas; and dear friends Tony (Michele) Perro and John Metzger. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Genesee County or the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

WILLIAM V. GEBERT

 

William V. Gebert, 81, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died April 9, 2016. His I.B.M. member number was19679, and he had been a member since 1964. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 90 (Albuquerque, New Mexico). He helped start up the Montgomery Wards Store in Albuquerque, and managed its shoe department for many years. Survivors include his children: Kimberly (Loyd) Miller, Melanie (Paul) Hepner, and Valerie (Ray) Owens; brothers Gary Gebert and Lance Patton; sisters Harriet Hayworth, Vicki Huskey, and Penny Fay; ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gebert Scholarship Foundation, c/o Immanuel Lutheran Church, 300 Gold Ave., SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

 

EDWARD F. HARRIS

 

Edward F. Harris, 83, of Miami Beach, Florida, died March 5, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 39987, and he had been a member since 1985. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 76 (San Diego, California). Survivors include his wife, Gail; children, J.D., Brett (Olga), and Geoff (Elana); and grandchildren Jack, Eden, and Stella. Memorial contributions may be made to Douglas Gardens or The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. 

 

MAJESTIK MAGNIFICENT

 

Majestik Magnificent, 61, of Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada, died February 19, 2016 of cancer according to numerous media reports. Born Harry Lloyd Wright in Helena, Arkansas, he aspired to be a famous entertainer from an early age. He began his career as a magician in Las Vegas in the 1970s. Soon he met Muhammed Ali, and later Ali introduced him to Michael Jackson, becoming what he called their “personal magician.” He became close friends to each of them and their families for over three decades; he toured the world as part of the entourage of both, and lived with Michael Jackson’s parents for more than ten years. He appeared in the documentary Ali the Fighter (1974), was a regular on the reality television series, Life With Latoya, and appeared as a guest on late-night talk shows. Survivors include his mother, Rose Thomas; brother, Stephen (Bernice) Wright; three sisters, Rose Evans, Blanche Simmons, and Carol (Billy) Williams; stepsister, Delores (Dempsey) Word; and second mom and dad, Joe and Katherine Jackson.

 

PAT LYONS

 

Pat Lyons died peacefully in hospice March 14, 2016, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from complications from lung cancer. She was widely known for her magic illustrations using her artist name, Pat Patterson. Pat, along with her husband, the late P. Howard Lyons, were responsible for Ibidem magazine (1955-1979), one of the most ground-breaking magic publications of the Twentieth Century. The emphasis was on card magic, but it also included puzzles and mathematics magic. Her puzzle -- The Vanishing Leprechaun -- remains one of the most pirated designs of this genre. In addition to magic, she loved jazz and science fiction. As per her wishes, memorial contributions may be made to Magicana (www.magicana.com) or to Kensington Hospice (www.kensingtonhealth.org/Hensington-Hospice/welcome.aspx).

 

JEAN MARS

 

Jean Mars, 80, of Lausanne, Switzerland, died March 6, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 48957, and he had been a member since 1992. He was a student of the Simon School in Paris, and of the Conservatoire of Lausanne. He played in more than two hundred theater productions throughout the world. He was a professional magician, clown, actor, director, producer, and radio journalist.

 

ABEL PABON, JR. 

 

Abel Pabon, Jr., 84, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, died March 22, 2016. His membership number was 14365, and he had been a member since 1953. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member). He served in the U.S. Air Force, and was a student of Slydini. He had an outstanding bird act and also was impeccable at close-up magic. He performed mostly in up-scale nightclubs and classy cabarets in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean. He also performed at both I.B.M. and S.A.M. conventions. He was proud to have been a mentor to many young magicians. Survivors include his wife, Marina; and his children Abel, Jr., Marlo, Tony, and Denisse.

 

JAMES M. PATTON

 

James M. Patton, 75, of Los Angeles, California, died January 24, 2016. He was a former member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Magicana was the name of a newsletter created by Bill Woodfield in 1946, and later was incorporated within Genii magazine. James Patton edited the newsletter for nearly four years, from February 1989 until December 1992. He also was a regular performer at the Magic Castle. He wrote the book A Visit with Larry Jennings, with Ron Vergilio, in 1982. 

 

RUSSELL PRESCOTT 

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters learned that Russell Prescott, 55, of Portage, Michigan, died June 5, 2013. His I.B.M. membership number was 68399, and he had been a member since 2009. Survivors at the time of his death included his mother, Beverly (Floyd) Sager; brothers and sisters, Barbara (Dale) Anderson, Donald (Joyce), Melvin, Lynette Sager, and Raymond. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 North Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49009.

 

EDWARD A. RIENDEAU

 

The I.B.M. headquarters recently was notified that Edward Arthur Riendeau, 80, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, died May 5, 2015. His membership number was 48009, and he had been a member since 1992. He also was a member of Ring 44 (Providence, Rhode Island). A life-long resident of New Bedford, he studied magic with the magician Hardeen (Houdini’s brother). He performed magic at stage shows at the Olympia theater before the weekend matinees, and later at his grandchildren’s birthday parties. He joined the National Guard in 1954, and later the U.S. Army. He worked for the Department of Corrections, advancing to Superintendent at Plymouth, and taught a class for the National Institute of Corrections Academy. In addition to magic, he enjoyed traveling, cooking, fishing, taking pilot lessons, and computers. Survivors at the time of his death included his wife, Margaret; children Elaine (David) Silva, and Edward, Jr.; and two grandchildren. John and Jill. 

 

ROGER RYAN

 

William Roger Ryan, 66, of Norman, Oklahoma, died March 17, 2016. His I.B.M. member number was 56731, and he had been a member since 1997. He also was a member of Ring 46 (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma). For many years he was the stage manager of that Ring’s public show, “Pandemonium of Magic.” After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in engineering physics, he became a licensed professional engineer. He was active in the hardware design and programming of the embedded computer systems that were part of major advances in oilfield exploration. In addition to magic, other hobbies included Ham radio operation, private pilot flying, and skiing. He gave away books to many youngsters, believing reading was a key to education, careers and life. He was an active supporter of LGBT organizations. Survivors include his sister, Maggie Coulter; brother, Hank (Ann); and cousin Alicia (Jim) Maisano. Memorial contributions may be made to the Engineering Physics Department at the University of Oklahoma.

 

JEAN SALANGROS

 

Jean Salangros, 88, of Publier, Haute-Savole, France, died March 7, 2016. His I.B.M. member number was 23765, and he had been a member since 1970. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He was a member of and one of the founders of Ring 207 (Switzerland). He became interested in magic at age ten, and in 1951 won second place in the FISM Sleight of Hand competition. He turned professional in 1953, and performed all over Europe. He also hosted his own television show in Switzerland. In the early 1970s, be slowed down his artistic career according to one report.

 

DONALD W. SMITH

 

Donald W. Smith, 89, of Arlington, Vermont and Jupiter, Florida, died March 1, 2016. His I.B.M. number was 17708, and he had been a member since 1966. He was a member of the Order of Merlin  Excalibur (fifty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 245 (Manchester Center, Vermont), and Ring 186 (New York Capital District). Born in Highlands, New Jersey, he served in the U.S. Navy, and graduated from Amherst College. He worked at the New York Military Academy as a guidance counselor; at Mohonk Mountain House as a bookkeeper; and at the Orange County Department of Social Services as a social worker for eighteen years. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved from Monroe, New York to Vermont. Survivors include his step-children: Patricia Gessner Hostutler, William Gessler, Suzanne Gessler (Michael) O’Boyle; six step-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. James Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 25, Arlington, VT 05250.

 

ARTHUR Z. STEINBERG

 

Rabbi Arthur Zanville Steinberg, 78, of Norfolk, Virginia, died April 10, 2016. His I.B.M. number was 64144, and he had been a member since 2003. He was a member of Ring 103 (Norfolk, Virginia). He served as the rabbi of Temple Sinai in Portsmouth for thirty-two years. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he graduated from the University of Maryland. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He served six years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. A lifelong activist, he was involved in every community in which he lived. He performed as “Zanville the Pretty Good” for a wide variety of audiences in many venues. For eleven years he was a part-time classical music announcer. Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Wolf; son, Jonathan (Lesley); daughters Gretchen (Rob) Hudome, Jennifer Steinberg and wife Beth Anne Moon, Jill (Tom) Gallagher, and Emily (Mark) Chesla; seven grandchildren; and honorary son, Burgess Hodges. Memorial contributions may be made to Oasis Social Ministry, Ohef Sholom Temple Religious School, or Cheva T’helim Jewish Museum & Cultural Center.

 

DAVID L. SULLIVAN 

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters was notified that David Lee Sullivan, 86, of State College, Pennsylvania, died December 10, 2015. His I.B.M. number was 17455, and he had been a member since 1959. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excalibur (fifty years a continuous member). Born in West Virginia, he served in the U.S. Navy, and graduated from Penn State with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He worked for International Business Machines and the Prodigy Services Company for over thirty years, directly involved in major Air Force weapons and navigational guidance systems, as well as NASA projects on the Saturn, Titan, Gemini, and other rocket module projects. Following retirement in 1991, he worked at Penn State University, both teaching and in administration. In addition to magic, he also loved square dancing, woodworking, and family genealogy, and was a collector and reader of books. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; sons James, and Steven (Virginia); and daughter Sandra Ordonez. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 250 E. College Ave., State College, PA 16801.

 

WARREN M. WEXLER

 

Warren M. Wexler, 83, of Highland Park, Illinois, died March 6, 2016. His I.B.M. number was 22011, and he had been a member since 1968. 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 attended the University of Illinois, and earned his law degree from Northwestern University, after which he opened his own law office in Chicago, in general practice. He was a tireless worker for Ring 43. When the ring won Best Large Ring in 1975 and again in 1977, Warren’s leadership was given much of the credit. He ran the ring’s annual show from 1976 to 1990; his late wife, Phyllis, ran the publicity. He also scheduled both stage and close-up acts for Magic Day at Lincoln Park Zoo, for ten years. He compiled three Ring 43 Parades for The Linking Ring. Survivors include his sons, Douglas and Michael, and five grandchildren. A Broken Wand ceremony was conducted in his honor at the Ring 43 April meeting.  

 

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