The I.B.M. Blog & Articles

The International Brotherhood of Magicians

22 Nov

8 People Honored in December 2016 Broken Wand

Category: Broken Wand   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

 VINCENT ANTHONY

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters was notified that Vincent Anthony, 56, of Vienna and Fairfax, Virginia, died May 5, 2016. A Washington Post obituary said formerly he lived in Charleston, South Carolina. No survivors were listed. His I.B.M. membership number was 52378, and he had been a member since 2012. On his application for membership he said, “I perform magic, collect magic and have an extensive collection and library. I first started as a boy and have continued my interest in magic for over forty years.”

 

WILLIAM F. BROOKS, JR.

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters learned that William Foster Brooks, Jr., 82, of Elk Grove, California, died December 23, 2015. His I.B.M. membership number was 33317, 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 also was a member of Ring 192 (Sacramento, California). He was employed by Aerojet. He taught sixth grade. He earned his Master’s Degree at California State University, Sacramento. He was an avid collector of magic. Other hobbies were food and dancing. Survivors include his wife of forty years, Joan; children Victoria (Keith) Lunt, William III (Toni); step-daughters Taryn Monroe and Jennifer; grandchildren Christal, Tanya (Matt) Nathan, Annessa, Jason Sr. (Rika), and Brandon (Erica); great-grandchildren Allina, Brianna, Cerena, Lydia, Jason Jr., and Augustine. Memorial contributions may be made to Loaves and Fishes.

 

EARLE J. CHRISTENBERRY, JR.

 

Earle John Christenberry, Jr., 89, of River Ridge, Louisiana, died November 8, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 9673, and he had been a member since 1947. He also was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 27, named after him (New Orleans, Louisiana), the Society of American Magicians, and the Magic Circle. He was past International President of the I.B.M. (1973-74). A graduate of Saint Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, he was a retired court reporter and co-owner of Associated Reporters. In addition to magic, he loved the New Orleans Saints, having been an original season ticket holder. Survivors include his children: John, Sr. (Pam), Robert (Janet), and Jane (Kerry) Bailey; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Stanislaus College, 304 South Beach Boulevard, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 39520. An In Memoriam is published elsewhere in this issue.

 

ANATOLE CORRIVEAU

 

The Honorable Justice Anatole Corriveau, 90, of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, died July 2, 2016. His I.B.M. membership number was 49617, and he had been a member since 1993. Phil Matlin, owner of the Montreal magic store, Perfect Magic, remembers the year that Judge Corriveay was asked to be a judge for the contests at a Montreal magic convention. After laughing at the irony (a real judge judging), he accepted and Matlin said that he was one of the best judges they ever had. Matlin said, “Reading the judge’s commentaries was a joy and they were informative, clear and concise.” He had a completely new, refreshing approach to judging magic contests. Among survivors are his children: Francine (Giasson) Gabriel, Diane (Pierre) Gagnon. and Philippe (Danielle) Simard; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of the University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology, www.foundation-iuspq.org.  

 

LAURA J. EISELE

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters learned that Laura J. (Smale) Eisele, 55, of Tyler, Texas, died July 17, 2016. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she served in the U.S. Navy for two years, stationed at The Pentagon. She was involved in the organization and management of the online communities of Full Circle Magic and Believe in Magic. She was an early member of the team which created a Facebook group four years ago to link up magicians, mentalists, hypnotists and other performing artists to share and learn from each other in positive ways. She was the Talent Coordinator for Full Circle Magic (www.fullcirclemagic.com). Survivors include her parents, Rev. Bill and Bette Smale; sister Kimberly (Robert) Arrilos; son, Ray (Casey) Smale; daughters Amanda (Ronnie) Turner, Chelsea Smale, and Misty Eisele; and six grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to PATH, The Salvation Army, Andrews Center, or Pollard United Methodist Church, all in Tyler, Texas.

 

VINCENT FINUCANE

 

Vincent Finucane, 86, of Limerick, Ireland,  died August 26, 2016. His I.B.M. member number was 42871, 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 85 (The Irish Ring, Belfast/Dublin, Ireland), The British Ring, and The Magic Circle. He was a co-founder of The Munster Society of Magicians in 1978. He brought in top magicians, lecturers, and and dealers from around the world. He was past president of the MSM, and territorial and past president of Ring 85. He was an electrical engineer and had his business and shop in Limerick. Survivors include his wife, Myra; daughters Valerie and Laura; and grandson Sean. A Broken Wand Ceremony was conducted by Pat Ward.

 

JEREMY LE POLDEVIN

 

Jeremy Le Poldevin, 62, of Shropshire, United Kingdom, died November 13, 2016 of a brain hemorrhage. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (2000-2015). He and his wife, Cheryl, took over Practical Magic twenty years ago and built it into the world’s leading supplier of children’s magic. The Trix in the Stix children’s magic convention, sponsored by Practical Magic, is still scheduled for next May. As an organ donor, at least five people’s lives were transformed by him. Among survivors is his wife, Cheryl. 

 

GERALD E. MICKEY

 

Gerald Edward Mickey, 74, of East Berlin, Pennsylvania, died November 4, 2016. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1983-2015). He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 20 (Harrisonburg, Pennsylvania). He was a graduate of the University of North Texas, and served in the U.S. Navy. He worked at Six Flags Over Texas as a musician, traveled with the Clyde McCoy Band (including on the Johnny Carson Show), and for over three decades enjoyed entertaining people with music and magic shows. He retired in 2001 from the Bermudian Springs School District as the elementary school band director for thirty-two years, and performed magic shows at the National Apple Harvest Festival for twenty-eight years. Survivors include his wife of fifty years, Linda; daughters Andrea (Brian) Holtzinger, and Renee (Gary) Burgard; five grandchildren; and sister Ruth Winklebleck. Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Assembly of God, 2136 Baltimore Pike, East Berlin, PA 17316, or to Aseracare Hospice, 44 Bowman Road, York, PA 17408. 

 

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