The I.B.M. Blog & Articles

The International Brotherhood of Magicians

30 Oct

Twelve people honored in November 2014 Broken Wand

Category: News   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

 The following are people in magic who The Linking Ring learned since last month, had died. We honor them for their contributions to magic, including bringing joy and laughter to many people over the years. Note that several of the obituaries include places to which memorial contributions may be made in their names.

BILL L. ADAMS

 

Bill Lee Adams, 86, of Green River, Utah, died September 29, 2014. He held I.B.M. member number 30561 since 1976. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of the Society of American Magicians and the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. Born in Santa Barbara, California, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He used one of his great loves, magic, to entertain fellow servicemen; as well as used two other talents, music and making films in the service. He had a career as owner of Capitol Roof in Santa Barbara, but he also had many unique side hobbies. He owned “Lamp Productions,” which produced an evangelistic film for Youth for Christ, as  well as a documentary about Central America and the ancient Mayans. He also owned a magic shop and produced many fine magic effects under the name “Bill Adams World of Magic.” His stage character was “Ling Lee” the Chinese magician, often assisted by his wife. They entertained throughout the world, from Korea, China, Japan and Singapore, to Canada and even at the bottom of the grand Canyon. He hosted three PCAM conventions. A man of faith, he was a choir director, Sunday School teacher, and youth leader. He led many groups on river trips, and loved filming and documenting the wilderness. He and his wife moved to Utah in 1991, continuing his church work there. Survivors include his wife of sixty-one years, June; son Troy; daughter Crystal (Brian) Boecker; grandchildren Bayley and Isabella; brother Glen (Eleanor) Adams; and sister-in-law Marjorie Kiefer. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Youth Building Fund, Green River Bible Church, P.O. Box 308, Green River, UT, 84525.

 

EARL J. ARTLE

 

Earl James (Jim) Artle, 63, of Highlands, New Jersey, died September 18, 2014 after a long struggle with ALS. His I.B.M. number was 36354, and he had been a member since 1981. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of the Magic Castle, where he performed. Born in West Virginia, he grew up in Warren, Ohio. He was a paramedic for forty-three years in New Jersey. He was hired to entertain the street crowds surrounding Barnes & Nobel in New York City for the new releases of the Harry Potter book series. In 1984 he became the Senior Balloon Technician for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, working there for thirty-three years. He retired in 2013, but not before passing on his balloon knowledge to another generation. His sister recently published his work, “A Fifth of Card Tricks -- With Coin Trick Chasers.” Survivors include his great love, Sandy Rafferty; daughters Casey (Michael) Christiernsson, and Kaitlin Faler; brothers Sam and Joe; sisters Lana Artle, Debbie (Michael) Wilson, and Bev (Joe) Reyes; and grandchildren Sarah and Caleb. Memorial contributions may be made to PALS, P.O. Box 8157, Red Bank, NJ 07701.

 

JOE M. BERTUZZI

 

Joe M. Bertuzzi, 73, of Lake Eisinore, California, died September 28, 2014 after several years of declining health, suffering a stroke at the end. His I.B.M. member number was 28828 and he had been a member since 1975. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 76 (San Diego), serving in every officer position in the Ring. He had retired as an executive with a trucking services agency. He worked tirelessly for the I.B.M. since joining. He served as the California TVP for ten years. He was elected for three terms as an I.B.M. Trustee, and actively recruited new members to the I.B.M. He made significant contributions to the Endowment and Development Fund through various projects he created and implemented. He was named an Honorary Member of the I.B.M. in 2002. There are only six living recipients of this honor. Survivors include two daughters, Kate Bertuzzi and Kelly Gillum; and his brother, James. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the I.B.M. Endowment and Development Fund, 13 Point West Blvd., St. Charles, MO 63302-4431. Call (636) 724-2400 for credit card contributions.

 

RICHARD A. DAVIS

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters learned that Richard A. Davis, 84, of Rancho Mirage, California, died April 27, 2014. His I.B.M. member number was 43439, 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 founding member of Ring 291 (Palm Desert, California). His two great loves of life besides his family were magic and flying. He loved to perform magic and especially liked to share his knowledge with anyone who was interested. He was a willing volunteer for charity fund-raisers, and was much loved and respected by his fellow magicians. Among survivors are his wife, Marie.

 

CARL DIETRICH

 

Carl “Bud” Dietrich, 92, of St. Louis, Missouri, died September 24, 2014. His I.B.M. member number was 10852, and he had been a member since 1948. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member), and was a Lifetime Member of the I.B.M. He also was a member of the Society of American Magicians and a former member of the Magic Castle. He was a member of Ring 1 (St. Louis), and was one of the founders of the Midwest Magic Jubilee in St. Louis in 1956. Born in East St. Louis, he was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. He had a long and distinguished career as a full time magician, performing for forty-four years before retiring in 2000. He lectured all over the United States and Europe, invented magic tricks, and wrote a book on magic. For over twenty years he specialized in working trade shows, and often was called the “Fortune 500 Magician.” His friend, Terry Richison, said “Bud and his late wife were icons in the St. Louis community. He always had something good to say about everything and everyone. He mentored many.” Survivors include his son Paul (Laura), and daughter Joan; sister Betty Rogers; and brother-in-law Richard Effinger. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 9370 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132.  

 

SANFORD KARTZMAN

 

Sanford Kartzman, 85, of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, died September 27, 2014. He held I.B.M. number 14644 since 1954, and was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (sixty years a continuous member). He also was a member of Ring 106 (Parsippany, New Jersey), and Ring 113 (Bergen County, New Jersey). He graduated from Upsala College, and retired after twenty-five years as an English teacher at Lakeland High School in Wanaque, New Jersey. He also worked many years as an auctioneer and a talent agent in the entertainment sales industry. He was a U.S. Army veteran. In addition to magic, he enjoyed photography and competitive target shooting. Survivors include his wife of fifty-three years, Ethel; son Paul; son-in-law George Ollwerther; grandson Andrew, and granddaughter Erika. Memorial contributions may be made to Chabad Center of Passaic County, 194 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470-5441, or Compassionate Care Hospice, 350 Sparta Ave., Suite B2, Sparta, NJ 07871. 

 

LAWRENCE D. LANNING

 

Recently the I.B.M. Headquarters was notified that Lawrence Donald (Don) Lanning, 79, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, died May 26, 2013. His I.B.M. membership number was 67594, and he had been a member since 2008. He was a member of Ring 334 (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina).  

 

KLAAS G. LINKER

 

Klaas G. Linker, 70, of Dondrecht, Netherlands, died October 10, 2014 after a long illness. His I.B.M. membership number was 36033, and he had been a member since 1980. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (twenty-five years a continuous member). In addition to being a magician, he was the owner of Goochelstudio Kali, a magic store in the Netherlands. Recently he retired. Survivors include his wife, Anke Linker-Vandegraaf; son Edwin (Theresa); daughter Evelien (Wilco) Van der Meer; and four grandchildren, Noah, Ralf, Mara, and Joey. 

 

RENEE LORAYNE

 

Renee Lorayne, 87, of Water Mill, New York (The Hamptons), died September 11, 2014. She was best known as the wife and partner of memory expert, cardician, and magician Harry Lorayne. They met in 1944 when Harry got out of the Army and went to work for the General Accounting Office in New York City, where Renee was working.  They started going together in 1945, and got married January 31, 1948. They started performing as “Harry Lorayne & Renee” in 1949, and were a “club date” act, performing in a different venue every night. They performed their memory act for twenty years, until one night, according to Harry, she said she didn’t want to do the act anymore and wanted a child. So she had their son, Robert, and Harry turned to the lecture and corporate speaking market. They lived in West Greenwich Village in Manhattan for forty-seven years. He told their story in his recent “rememoir,” Before I Forget. Harry will now move to Massachusetts to be near his son and family. The Loraynes were on the cover of Genii in 1963 and 2001, and were featured in The Linking Ring In the November 2010 issue. Survivors include her husband of sixty-six years, Harry; son Robert (Elizabeth); granddaughter Genevieve (Vivi); and sister, Marilyn. Memorial contributions may be made to the I.B.M. Endowment and Development Fund, 13 Point West Blvd., St. Charles, MO 63301.

 

TONI PERRINE

 

Toni Perrine, 89, of Carlsbad, California, died May 9, 2014. Her I.B.M. membership number was 63143, and she had been a member since 2002. She was a member of Ring 76 (San Diego, California), and Ring 292 ( Vista, California). Toni Perrine was born Pamela Young in Brighton, Sussex, England. As it turns out, she was born to perform and to travel, and spent her entire life doing both. Her life story reads like both a travelogue (Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and beyond), as well as a ten-ring circus (ballet dancer, clown, magician, actress, singer, mime, belly dancer, ice skater, ballroom dancer, acrobat, teacher, etc.). And she was still performing well into her eighties. She came to the United States with the circus in her early twenties, and stayed -- marrying and having two children while living in Las Vegas. Later she moved to California, marrying Bill Perrine in 1968; he died in 1980. Ever the adventurer, she took up belly-dancing at age fifty-seven, and clowning soon after. Both became new passions to add to her colorful repertoire. In writing her life story for the Gilded Serpent, Belly Dance News & Events, she wrote in 2009: “I want my ability to pursue my dreams and passions to be an inspiration to others. When I become interested in something, I chase it with unbridled enthusiasm and passion.” Talk about a full and abundant life well lived.       

 

ANDREW G. PUGENS

 

Andrew (Andy) G. Pugens, 62, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died September 4, 2014. His I.B.M. member number was 23876, and he had been a member since 2011. He was a member of Ring 41 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Assembly 61 of the Society of American Magicians, and the Houdini Club of Wisconsin. His interest in magic began in his youth and by age twelve he was performing at magic club functions and at birthday parties. He graduated from the Chavez Magic School in his mid-teens, where he perfected  Channing Pollock-inspired dove act. He won over a dozen first place trophies from various junior magician competitions. He served in the U.S. Army as an “Entertainment Director.” He worked for the Ambrosia Chocolate Factory. Survivors include his wife of forty-two years, Angie; daughters Jackie and Diana; and five grandchildren.

 

LEWIS E. WRIGHT

 

Lewis (Lew) Edward Wright, 74, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, died September 16, 2014, from pancreatic cancer. His I.B.M. member number was 33064, and he had been a member since 1978. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member). Born in Springfield, Illinois, he graduated from the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, then settled in Los Angeles where he worked briefly at the MGM Studios before being called to duty with the California Air National Guard in 1963. In 1969 he moved to the Washington, D.C. area. He lived briefly in Branson, Missouri before moving back to D.C., performing magic shows.  He briefly owned a small magic store in Drummer’s Village in Alexandria, Virginia, and worked at Al’s Magic Shop designing new magic tricks. He also enjoyed building cuckoo clocks. He worked as a bartender for the Sea Shell Restaurant until they closed, moving on as a bartender and bar manager at “The Game Room & Grill” in Fort Washington. He was known for his signature drink, “Lew’s Zombie.” He entertained customers and employees with his magic tricks, pranks and jokes. Survivors include his brother Gil (Diane); and cousins Juanita (Joe) Brower and Barbara (Gene) Allen.

 

END 

 


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