BROKEN
WAND: PHILIP R. WILLMARTH
Message
by Dennis Schick
Philip Reed Willmarth, 83, of Durham, North Carolina, died
September 16, 2014.
He was International President of the International Brotherhood
of Magicians, 2007-08, and prior to that was Assistant Editor
for fourteen years (1978-1992) and Executive Editor for fifteen
years (1992-2007), of The Linking Ring, the I.B.M.'s monthly
journal.
He was a member of Ring 199 (Raleigh, North Carolina), Ring
326 (Burbank-Glendale-Eagle Rock-Pasadena, California), Ring
2100 (The Universe), the Society of American Magicians, and
the Magic Circle (MIMC with Gold Star). Born in Pennsylvania,
as a boy his father gave him a magic book by Will Lindhorst
and that hooked him on magic for life.
He owned an advertising and marketing research company and
performed as a part-time professional magician since 1959.
He also was a popular emcee and lecturer throughout the country.
He was author of several books and booklets, including "The
Magic of Matt Schulien" (1959), "Fun With a Handershief"
(1969), "The Ring and Rope Book" (1975), "Jim
Ryan Close-up" ( Four volumes, 1980-81), "Trevor
Lewis ESOLC" (1981), "The Knot Collector" (1989),
and "The Impostress Princess Expanded" (2011). He
also published several books by other authors.
Among survivors are his wife, Robbie; his children, Janet
and John; and her children, Eldridge and Lelia, and their
families.
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