Funeral for a friend

by Lori Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:19 am

I'm waiting on my dad to wake up, see that he has a message on his machine and call me back. His friend Mike passed away and visitation is tomorrow. I'm offering to drive him down so we can go, and if he does, I need to change some appointments around tomorrow. Mike was a magician and performed at my wedding shower. He was really, really good. His son posted this on Facebook (which is good for something I guess or I'd not have found out he'd passed):

"Sullivan the Magician" Toured the Midwest for many decades, delighting Audiences at Schools, Community Centers, Hospitals and Scouting Events with Magic, Ventriliquism, and Puppetry. Whether in a Grand Theatre or his Backyard before friends releatives and neighbors. His prowess with slight of hand, cards, coins, Illusion, Doves and silk dazzled all. With showmanship and humor uniquely his own, everyone he met or entertained became a friend. And every child's wonderous gaze filled him with Joy and Satisfaction.

An Artist, Musician and Athlete. He painted and sculpted, played a variety of Instruments, particularly the Violin, and won acclaim for his Basketball and Boxing Skills thru his early life and career in the Navy. He Served aboard the USS Leyte during the Korean War Conflict, And after toured with a traveling marionette troup, performing all across the midwest.

Meeting Lilly during this time, he began a family and became the best Dad my brother Patrick and I could have ever wished for, and a devoted husband for 53 years to my wonderful mother.

His Art brought joy to others, and fed the Love of his art, which brought him Joy, which he poured back out upon everyone he knew. It was a wonderous upbringing full of all that enriched life, and he did it with vigor.

He was, as has often been understated, a "Great Guy". Willing to expend time, effort, money, blood, sweat and tears to help any in need, whenever he could, always.

He will be sorely missed.

If my dad wants to go, it'll be a hellishly long day of driving. I'm a 4.5 hour drive to the Detroit suburb where the visitation is, and would be picking my dad up 2.5 hours south of me.