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Steve,

Rod was truly a wonderful person. If there's anything that people who didn't get to meet him need to know, it's that. He was kind to everyone, generous to a fault with his time, money and information, and cared very deeply about magic, music, film, books, boxing and weightlifting, and dozens of other subjects that you might never think he would know about.

He was a legitimate authority on boxing (and a Washington state amateur champion at one point), once won a chess tournament in school, could wax poetic about jazz musicians from the 1930s to present day, and was as well read in magic as anyone I've ever met.

His only "fault" is that he was a slot thief (his preferred word) and card cheat virtually his entire adult life. He never tried to defend his actions in any sort of way; he knew what he was doing was stealing and he stated that fairly plainly. Rod never said this, but I don't know that he could've done much else for a living - cheating was in his blood and he was great at it. I don't celebrate what he did in any way, but considering my strong interest in that world, he was endlessly fascinating to talk to and I learned a tremendous amount from him.

I miss him dearly.

Jason

PS: There is a little bit of performance footage of Rod floating around out there. He's briefly on Paul Wilson and Lee Asher's Hit the Road DVD and there is a quick snippet of him doing a thimble vanish/recovery in the photo montage I put together after he passed away. You can see it here: http://vimeo.com/83747588

Steve Friedberg Inner circle 1402 Posts	Posted: Sep 23, 2014 02:58 am 0 Jason: You introduced me to Rod at Boomer's one Wednesday night. He was a character, without a doubt, one who you've said was a good friend. What can you tell us about him, for those of us who never had the chance to meet him? And what lessons did you take from knowing him? Cheers, Steve "A trick does not fool the eyes, but fools the brain." -- John Mulholland
JasonEngland V.I.P. Las Vegas, NV 1731 Posts	Posted: Sep 23, 2014 07:58 am 2 Steve, Rod was truly a wonderful person. If there's anything that people who didn't get to meet him need to know, it's that. He was kind to everyone, generous to a fault with his time, money and information, and cared very deeply about magic, music, film, books, boxing and weightlifting, and dozens of other subjects that you might never think he would know about. He was a legitimate authority on boxing (and a Washington state amateur champion at one point), once won a chess tournament in school, could wax poetic about jazz musicians from the 1930s to present day, and was as well read in magic as anyone I've ever met. His only "fault" is that he was a slot thief (his preferred word) and card cheat virtually his entire adult life. He never tried to defend his actions in any sort of way; he knew what he was doing was stealing and he stated that fairly plainly. Rod never said this, but I don't know that he could've done much else for a living - cheating was in his blood and he was great at it. I don't celebrate what he did in any way, but considering my strong interest in that world, he was endlessly fascinating to talk to and I learned a tremendous amount from him. I miss him dearly. Jason PS: There is a little bit of performance footage of Rod floating around out there. He's briefly on Paul Wilson and Lee Asher's Hit the Road DVD and there is a quick snippet of him doing a thimble vanish/recovery in the photo montage I put together after he passed away. You can see it here: http://vimeo.com/83747588 Eternal damnation awaits anyone who questions God's unconditional love. --Bill Hicks
Marvello Inner circle It's amazing how little I can say in 1612 Posts	Posted: Sep 26, 2014 01:41 pm 0 Nice thimble work! Never criticize someone else until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Then, when you do criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes.
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