Former owner of Trick & Joke Shop succumbs to leukemia and skin cancer
Jeff Bell, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A meeting of the Victoria Magic Circle last night turned into a memorial for one of its most accomplished members, Tony Eng, who died Sunday at the age of 61.
The hope when the meeting was planned was that Eng would present his namesake trophy to the winner of a competition for the best close-up magic trick. Instead, fellow magicians like Shayne King took time to share thoughts of a man they respected and admired.
"He taught me a lot, he gave a lot of magicians their start," said King, who managed Tony's Trick & Joke Shop for Eng. He has continued at the store since it became Murray's Trick & Joke Shop two years ago under Murray Hatfield.
Hatfield said running the store has shown him just how far-reaching Eng's influence has been. Eng's legendary demonstrations of his sleight-of-hand at the store counter were a long-time attraction, Hatfield said.
"I can't tell you how many times since we took over the shop that I've had people coming in and saying thinks like 'We're here from Bakersfield, Calif. and we were here five years ago, and it was just the high point of our trip'".
It was all because of Tony and the way he made people feel.
"Tony was a master and definitely one-of-a-kind, and he will be greatly missed by both the magic community at large and by a lot of non-magicians who just happened to come in and meet him through the shop."
Hatfield said that many people he speaks to are finding the news of Eng's death hard to believe.
"This has been such a blow. For the last three days, I've been hearing nothing but people just being in shock. Tony was such an awesome guy -- not only was he an exceptional performer and a great businessman, he just was a really nice man."
The response to his death means a great deal to the family, said Sandra Eng, one of his two daughters.
"The word is starting to ripple out there now and it touches my heart every time I hear how significantly Dad made an impact on people."
She said her father, born in Victoria in 1946, was diagnosed last October with both a form of leukemia and a rare type of skin cancer.
His fascination with magic went back to his early childhood, she said.
"He got his first magic kit when he was eight and did his first paid gig at the age of 12."
His ability as a musician had him performing at innumerable charity events over the years. He also became a Sunday night fixture at the Japanese Village restaurant, where he entertained diners for two decades.
Her father had many interests outside of magic, as well, his daughter said, and entrepreneurial skills that saw him run a successful wholesale business and establish the Premier School of Bartending.
"He loved to play racquetball. He was a fierce competitor and his Y buddies are going to sorely miss him. He also went fly-fishing, he did woodworking and he went RVing. Mom and Dad started travelling in the last few years quite a bit down south to Arizona."
A tribute is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008
7 comments:
I am Brenda Stephens Jackson. Wayne and Edith Stephens Daughter. My heart goes out to you and nothing is said that will make the pain go away except, he was such an amazing man and he touched many peoples lives. He will truely be missed by all his peers and everyone that ever met him. My thoughts and prayers are with you thought this most difficult time
Brenda Stephens Jackson.
God bless
My name is Jamie Forish and I had known Tony for almost 25 years. I had enrolled in a bartending course in the mid 80's and was instantly amazed by this man as he was absolutely amazing. Without a doubt one of the most inspiring individuals I'm sure I will ever have the pleasure of knowing in this lifetime. Condolences and well wishes to the Eng Family at this difficult time. Godspeed. So long friend. Jamie
My name is Pete Kaminski. For many years I toured with Magic & Miracles performing in Victoria. My favorite moments were always visiting Tony and sharing a laugh, joke and a trick. We also shared a huge passion for Fly-fishing. Many times we discussed our favorite fly patterns to catch the trout of our dreams. The world has lost a great man. My deepest condolences go to the whole Eng family in this time of grief & sorrow. My prayers are with you all.....
Hi Ann, Julie and Sandra:
Our deepest condolences on the loss of your dear Tony. David and I were shocked and saddened to hear the news of his passing. He was a wonderful, caring man, who made a deep and lasting impression on those he met along his all too short journey.
David has wonderful memories of playing volleyball with Tony on the Y team, for many years. He and Tony also enjoyed a fierce but friendly competition on the tennis courts, where, for the most part, I understand, Tony remained the undefeated champion of all their matches.
We know you are going to miss him terribly. He was a wonderful caring man, who loved his family above all else. Take good care. Sincerely, Elizabeth and David Ramage
The highlight of our trips to Victoria was to visit Tony's Magic Shop and see Tony absolutely blow us away with his amazing skill and infectious humor. I always enjoyed watching lay people come in and see Tony perform for them.
As a magician, Tony was one of the best and most generous with his time and knowledge. I wish there were more like him in this business.
Our condolences and and prayers are with you all.
Hi, My name is Stacey Harrison, and I am a semi-professional magician, out of Saddle Lake, Alberta. I had the pleasure of meeting Tony, at his Shop in Victoria, a couple of years ago. He was a wonderful shop keeper, and helped my magicial abilities expand (his coin routine was breath taking!) I am saddened to hear of his passing. My prayers and thoughts are with the family and friends of a wonderful man, and a truly gifted performer
-Stacey
Hi Ann and family. I was absolutely shocked to read this and learn that my best friend in school, had passed away. My condolences to you all. We reconnected in the 80's when I returned to Victoria and saw him as the magical Bartender.
I remember doing KP duty at his father's restaurant in Sidney, peeling potatoes so that he and I could chum together. I was his straight man all through school when he was perfecting his magic tricks. It was fun! HE WAS FUN TO BE WITH AND WE LAUGHED A LOT!. He loved illusion and the art of magic. We conned a lot of our fellow students out of some coin by his slight of hand.
Beyond that he was sensitive to the human condition and always wanted to entertain.
I wish to give thanks to have known him and pay my respects to his family.
His blog was eerily similar to my Father's bout with cancer.
He was way too young and healthy to be taken away so fast.
I give my thanks to have known him as a friend and to have developed and matured with his " love of entertainment and magic" as a cog in my wheel of life.
Thank you for posting the Blog. I learned a lot from his personal expressions. It's truly a shame that he is gone.
Leo Vanderbyl. lvanderbyl@shaw.ca
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