Dr Albo invited me for a very pleasant dinner with him his charming wife, as well as Martha and Joe Stevens, two years ago. He was a true gentleman and extremely knowledgeable magician. There should be some illness and death exemption for some of us...

He saved so many lives, but nothing could save his. They had a moment of silence for him at the NBA Warriors basketball game last night.

Luck enough to purchase a Signed David Copperfield Beyond Imagination and David Copperfield Tales of the Impossible both books are signed with "To Bob + Marge Love David" Also Includes a Christmas Card from David. Bob's collection of magic now belongs to David Copperfield and is displayed in his museum in Las Vegas.

Thought some would like to see the OB, I wrote:

Sadly, "Doc Albo" as he was called by his closest friends, passed away on February
21, 2010.

Because of his vision in appreciating and recognizing the craftsmanship and ingenuity
of early Magic apparatus, he became the most prominent figure in the Magic Collecting world. His magnum opus "Classic Magic Series" will live forever. A true testament to Magic.

In addition to his contribution as a scholar of our passion, the medical community paid
homage to his skills as a top surgeon in his specialty of Neurology, and sports fans in
the Bay area acknowledged his deserved fame as Team Surgeon for the Oakland
Raiders and The San Francisco Warriors. Legendary to team members and
management, players eagerly sought his assistance and wise counsel in rehabilitating
injury.

“Doc” was the most personable individual I have ever met, with charisma, energy and
optimism that had no match. Despite the dreadful disease ravaging his body he
maintained his spirited personality; he was always planning future projects.

“Doc” called some 7 months ago to tell me the bad news, and very calmly, so as not to upset me......imagine that....said, "Mario I have six months to live". I was speechless at this devastating news, but his gentle voice reassured me, "Don't worry, I am going to disappoint them."

Last November, I visited him. I was too distraught to go alone, and was accompanied by my close friend, Salvatore Franchino. It was to be my last visit to his home in Piedmont,where I have stayed many times. His smile was still there, of course, and although he greeted me in his sweat suit, his mobility was severely limited. He grasped my despair,but "ignored" it and we immediately proceeded to sit in his living room and talked for almost 3 hours about our personal relationship. Many of his insights gained over a life time of study and collecting I was thus able to preserve on video tape.

We embraced, and he said “don't worry, I will see you next week in Boston at NEMCA (a New England Magic Collectors gathering).

Despite all odds, perhaps even because of the challenge, of course, he did go. It must have been grueling for him to sit in that aircraft, in his state, for 5 hours. I believe he knew,deep inside, that this was his last Magic Collectors gathering. He spent time and shook hands, for 2 full days and far into the night, embracing his close friends. And then, like a champion athlete and a true show stopper, he gave the most formidable, from the heart, emotional lecture some 200 plus attendees had ever witnessed. The trouper received a sustained standing ovation. Tears were in his eyes when he walked off the stage. I certainly had them, and many in the audience had them, too.

“Doc” leaves a wonderful family behind and his legacy to Magic will be eternal, as will
his soul; undoubtedly he is now multi-tasking..... taking care of athletes in Heaven and
chatting with the great apparatus makers of the past.

Hopefully, someday I will meet him in Collecting Paradise, and will once again hear the familiar inquiry......."Mario, anything old and unusual for me?"

Your friend and number one admirer of 35 years

Thank you Mario for posting these remberances of Doc. He was very special.

I was there in New England and it was one of the most moving speeches I have ever heard.

I would love to sit and watch the video of him talking with you one day.

Yes, he was so very, very special.

Richard