If you didn't know him, Neil Martin used to make cards for magicians. If you had an idea for a complex gimmicked deck and wanted someone to make you a professional quality product he was your man. He did some excellent work for me, certainly.
He died on the 14th but I've only just seen the email from his son letting me know. I've pasted it below:
The passing of a legend.
I am Curtis, Neils son. I finally got to my fathers computer and am taking this opportunity to notify everyone in his address book of this tragic news. Neil passed away at his Lancaster home of "Natural Causes" on 9-14-09, at the age of 80. This is a tragic loss, not only to his family, but to the magic community as well.
There will be an obituary posted in the Antelope Valley Press this coming Tuesday the 22nd. Those that wish may view it online at www.avpress.com.
I have a couple of completed orders that were awaiting the mail that I will drop at the post office this coming week. If you have pending orders through his website, I do not have access to it yet, so your best bet is to merely cancel through PayPal if your order was placed after 9-14-09, I have no way of knowing what he completed and what he didn't.
As Neil's only child, and the only family he has in the local area, I have a tremendous burden to deal with, but will be a happy to answer questions as I can. My email is {edited out by OP}
Neil left no life insurance (probably thought he'd live forever), or Will that has turned up. I am taking the next month off work to try and sort out his affairs. This has put a great strain on my family as well. Anyone wishing to make a contribution of any kind towards Neils final arrangements may do so through PayPal, to the email address I provided.
Neil was a retired Army Sgt 1st Class, serving in both the Army, and as a munitions specialist in the Army Air-Corp during the Korean conflict. He has worked as a watch repairman, instrument repairman, and as a Magician, and later on delved into psychology (Neuro-Linguistic Programming to be exact). Neil developed all his own techniques for his hand made cards, and even though I didn't follow in his footsteps, was aware of the admiration that people all over the world held for his special form of artistry.
As I sit here at his computer, I am surrounded by his world of cards... they are everywhere in the house... Big ones, little tiny ones, red ones, blue ones, every back you can imagie. There on shelves, in boxes, under furniture, behind the refrigerator and couch... literally in every room... But that was his life... I just wish it was a bit more organized...
One of Neils close friends, Gino Munari, will be driving in from Vegas ( I think) to help me sort out my fathers magic/card business, and perhaps make available some of what he finds here. He doesn't know it yet, but he'll need to take a month off work just to sort through all this stuff. Neil had gathered a lifetimes worth of magic collectibles, books... and friends. Gino, you have no idea what you're stepping into.
Neil was working with Gino to produce a book over the past several years, and in Neil's inemitable style, never took the time to sit down with Gino and finalize the project. I have discussed completing the project with him and there may be a book on his cards sometime in the future, so keep an eye out down the road.
There is a blog on Neil's passing on the Genii Forum, for those of you that wish to share your thoughts and memories of "Cards by Martin" will find it in the "Buzz" forum.
My father was an artisan, a friend to many around the world, a craftsman, and a character to those that knew him from the Magic Castle, and around town. If you ever shared a stool at the "Owl Bar" (in the Castle) with him, you'll never forget him. He was a regular at several local haunts here in town. Breakfast was always at the Village Grill, around the corner from where I sit. Evenings were always at the Black Angus... In the bar, not the resturaunt. I was told today that the manager at the Black Angus had placed a vase of fresh flowers at the booth he always occupied, with a sign that said, "Reserved For Neil". The love people had for him brings me closer to tears than any single thing that comes to mind.
I want to say in closing, "thank you", to his friends, his customers, his drinking buddies, his aquaintences... where ever around the globe you are. Neil mailed his magic to Japan, the UK, Australia, Germany, and a gazillion places iI haven't found stamps, envelopes, and mailing addresses for yet.
To all of you, thank you.
Curtis Martin
