Remembering Magic Frank

My son Stephen loves Magic Frank. He takes lessons in magic with him each summer. Magic Frank is one of those people who found wonder in the world—he showed kids that you can tear up paper and wave your hand to make it come back together. Lost coins can be commanded to reappear. Metal links give way because you wish for them to.

And then he would let the children in on a secret: here is how you can make these things happen.

Last night, being a parent meant having to tell Stephen that the world has lost of some of that magic.

“How was your day, Mom?” he asked me at dinner. This was the moment of truth. The Adult School's Community Summer Program for Children had been running smoothly for the past three weeks. I work at the program, and part of my job includes taking photographs of children enjoying their enrichment classes while my own children go about their day, in art and music, and, yes, magic.

We had just learned that Magic Frank died Sunday of an apparent heart attack
at the age of 42.

“Not good,” I answered him honestly. “Something very sad happened.”

And so my husband and I told our children that Magic Frank had died, that
his huge heart that had loved the children he taught had given out.

“He was my friend,” our 9-year-old son told us and cried.

Frank DeMasi was indeed a friend to his little magicians. As Magic Frank, he had performed at close to 11,000 events, including hospital pediatric wards, cerebral palsy centers, schools, police departments, video and toy stores and a professional baseball team. He taught at the community summer program in South Orange and Maplewood for many years and was a Master Magician for the past 25 years.

Prior to performing full-time as a magician, Frank DeMasi worked in law
enforcement for the Essex County Sheriff's Office. He became an EMT and volunteered for the West Orange First Aid Squad and for the University Hospital in Newark. Additionally, he had served as an instructor in CPR and First Aid for Saint Barnabas in Livingston.

“Believe in yourself,” Magic Frank would tell Stephen. And for an hour each day, my son did. That’s not always easy. Stephen learns differently than many other children. Things that come easily and naturally to so many children can be frustrating. My son can recite Shakespeare but he struggles to tell time. Not every teacher can reach him. But Magic Frank did and teased him to recite his magic spells in German.

So, last night, we watched Magic Frank on one of the videos he produced a few years back. The DVDs are among the many honors Magic Frank received. Consumer Reports named the lessons in its roundup of “Best Gifts” in 2003 and 2004.

Our family sat and learned the techniques for making magic with everyday objects, like the rising ring, the vanishing sugar and the rub-a-dub coin.

“Stephen,” the video is inscribed, “You are the Magic.”

Marilyn Lehren is the Communications Coordinator for the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School.