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KirkG Inner circle 1391 Posts |
I am so sorry to report this news. Neil Lester, Cards by Martin, has passed. May he rest in peace.
His son Curtis Martin called Geno Munari and wants to let everyone know that if they had orders pending, that they will be delivered. |
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Turk Inner circle Portland, OR 3546 Posts |
I'm so sad to hear this. Neil Lester was a class act and so very helpful to anyone who asked. In addition, a great loss to the magic community.
Magic is a vanishing Art.
This must not be Kansas anymore, Toto. Eschew obfuscation. |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Oh no....I just did some bix with him and was kidding him about not coming to the Magic Castle for Friday lunches like he used to. No indication anything was wrong.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Sixten Inner circle Floral Park, NY, U.S.A. 4654 Posts |
This is a complete shock.
(We developed a 'typing' friendship over the past year. He was a real sweetheart) Yesterday, I sent him a e-mail just to ask him how he is doing. Rest In Peace, my friend. I will always have you in my heart. With sadness. Sixten |
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Robert M Inner circle 2482 Posts |
I'm so sorry to hear this. I've known Neil for 35 years. Great guy.
Robert |
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Sixten Inner circle Floral Park, NY, U.S.A. 4654 Posts |
A classic 'war story': (That Neil told me about)
In the early '60's, Neil was stationed at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. One evening, Neil, and his two buddies, were performing a magic act inside their canteen. During their performance, their C.O. came busting through the door and commanded everyone to, immediately, report to the 38th. Parallel. When Neil, along with his two friends, arrived at the M.P. checkpoint, they weren't allowed to proceed. Due to 'all three of them' being dressed in long tails and top hats, with their weapons. (Must have been a wonderful sight!) Finally, after 20 minutes, they were cleared to proceed. Wonderful 'tail'/LOL. Neil, I know you are reading this from Heaven. You are missed. Sixten |
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CardMaker Inner circle Ludwigsburg/GERMANY 1063 Posts |
THIS IS SO SAD!!!
Neil was not only a very good friend of mine, although we just did all correspondence by email - sometimes even in German; he still remembered some German from his time he spent in Kaiserlautern/Germany! Neil also gave me the input and encouraged me all the time to start my business. He was the man who made me believe in gaffed cards. This is what he wrote in my guestbook: "There is a young man in Germany who must be as crazy as I am. He also makes gaffed cards for magicians. I have some of his work and he does an excellent job. I am pleased that someone else has started doing this AND that he does a very good job of it. He will get even better, as time passes and his customers require him to improve. I can certainly recommend him, for custom made magic cards. Neil M. Lester AKA - Cards by Martin U.S.A." I will truely miss him. May he find a good beer over there, where he is now! P.S. Anybody got some information about his book he planned to release?
CardMaker/Bernd Maucksch
Finest gaffed cards for magicians |
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Chessmann Inner circle 4242 Posts |
RIP, Neil.
I dealt with him 3 or 4 times, and he was a pleasure.
My ex-cat was named "Muffin". "Vomit" would be a better name for her. AKA "The Evil Ball of Fur".
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manreb Special user 666 Posts |
Sorry to hear about Neil's passing.
I first met his around 1972 when I was first geting into magic. Nice guy, taught me how to split cards. May he rest in peace. |
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Daveandrews Special user London, UK 723 Posts |
Oh no - what a great guy he was.
I only dealt with him once, but it was over a period of time. I was putting a manip act back together again, after 30 years, in 2007, and I wanted almost a full deck of double faced cards with indices in all four corners, so I could do continual fan prods from one hand! He couldn't believe my request, and was hesitant at first, because of the work involved and the rarity of the card stock - oh, and they had to be bridge sized cards. After several exchanges of e-mails he finally set to work and completed them over a period of time, due to the complexity of the job. They arrived on my doorstep and were superb - I use them to this day. Those cards will mean even more to me now. What a nice guy he was. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Dave
http://[URL]www.partymagic.org.uk" target="_blank">www.partymagic.org.uk" target="_blank">http://[URL]www.partymagic.org.uk
Winner of KIDabra International's 'People's Choice Award' Winner IBM British Ring Dittia Shield for manipulation x 2 |
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IllusionJack Veteran user Las Vegas, Nevada 376 Posts |
Neil was always very helpful to me and I am sorry to hear of his passing. The magic world has lost an important and wonderful person.
--Jack |
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Ireland Loyal user Regina, Sask. Canada 217 Posts |
Neil made two sets of cards for me...a wonderful person to 'deal' with...thank you Neil...you will be missed.
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Steven Steele Chief of Staff 1868 Posts |
This is shocking. I met Neil back in the early 70's and visited him from time to time. He always got me what I needed and always so helpful. Another great one gone...he will be sorely missed.
Coram Deo
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
RIP Neil. You are already missed by so many.
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waltsal Loyal user 278 Posts |
We've lost an irreplaceable friend to magic. He was always great to deal with.
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charliemartin Special user Rapid City, SD 779 Posts |
OMG!!! A truly wonderful gentleman in this crazy world of ours. RIP!!
Charlie |
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martini Special user delta, pennsylvania 548 Posts |
Just returned from Vegas to learn that a good friend Neil Lester had passed away.
Neil was a gentleman and a good friend. I worked with him many years back at the old Yogi Magic Mart in Baltimore run by Phil Thomas. We constantly kept in touch and would talk at least twice a month. Many people thought that we did not get along since we were in the same business, but nothing could be further from the truth. Neil and I often were heard commenting that some younger guys better pick up this trade as we old guys will not be around forever. You will be sadly missed my friend, I won't say goodbye, just "See You Down The Road" Marty |
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Son of Cards By New user Lancaster, CA 9 Posts |
I am Curtis, Neils son. I wanted to thank all of you for the kind rememberances, stories, and heart felt condolences. If any of you had pending business with Neil, please let me know through a PM. I will see what I can do to straiten things out as I get a bit further down the road.
Neil was one of a kind, a friend to those around the world, an artisan in his own right, an innovator. He will be misses. He commented to me a week before he passed that he neded to make an appearance at the Castle because there were rumors going around that he had died. Aparently he had not been as regular with his visits due to some car problems he was experiencing. Neil was working on a book about his cards/card magic with a close friend of his for the past few years. It was done, except taking the photo's, which he never seemed to get around to. I will see what I can do to make sure that this piece of magic's history finds it way to print. Anyone wishing to contribute stories for the book can email me at cm224@juno.com. As I had told those I had a way to contact through direct email, Neils life was cards. As I attempt to get his affairs in order, I am surrounded by cards. Cards of every size, color and back permeate his home. No matter where I go, or look, in the house and garage... cards. Decks, boxes, cases... In the laundry, under and behind furniture... cards, parts of cards, sheets of pips, you name it. Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me. I have already told my job that I will need at least a month to go through his estate and sort things out. Neil pretty much lived on his Army retirement and supplemented his meager income with the cards. He left no insurance policies, and no funds that are readily available. Anyone wishing to assist the family with his final arrangements may make a donation by sending any contribution to the email address I posted through PayPal, or place an order on his site, http://www.cardsbymartin.com and make the note "Contribution" in the comments section. I will eventually figure out how to access his website and gain access to the pending orders he has piled up in there. If anyone has a pending order through his site, and wish to cancel, please do so through PayPal, as I have no idea how long before I can get his PayPal account straitened out. It looks like there's lots of legal stuff I will have to take care of to handle his financial matters. I guess he thought he would live forever and never found the need to create a will. As his only child, I guess it's only a matter of time. Again, thank all of you for your kindness. Neil will be missed by many. Kindest regards to all of you. Curtis Martin Son of "Cards by Martin"
Curtis Martin
Son of "Cards By Martin" |
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Sixten Inner circle Floral Park, NY, U.S.A. 4654 Posts |
Dear Mr. Curtis Martin:
My family's deepest condolences to you. Your father will always be in our prayers. Sixten and family. |
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Bato William Regular user All I've managed to write is 160 Posts |
I'm sorry to hear that Neil Lester passed. I only bought one item from him, and met him once at the Magic Castle, but he seemed like a nice guy.
I used to love reading his catalog of card goodies; it, and he, were unique. Bato William
You're nothing but a pack of cards! - Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson)
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