Death occurred on November 3 for Thomas E. Craven, who resided in Brimfield. He was 89 years old. Damian and Estelle (Glassner) Craven welcomed their son into the world on November 2nd, 1934 in Akron. After completing his high school education at Atwater, he joined the Marine Corps and served for a period of three years. His employment history includes stints with a number of different companies, such as Cleveland Worsted Mills, City Loan, Basic Computer, and the company that was once known as Akron Aeros.
Additionally, he served as a bailiff for Judge Robert Kent in the Portage County Municipal Court of the United States. MAGIC, on the other hand, was his first romance. A friend’s father, who was 74 years old at the time, taught him a few card tricks when he was 28 years old, and he became hooked on the game. Over the course of more than half a century, he immersed himself in the field of prestidigitation, conducting study, developing, perfecting, and performing feats of prestidigitation.
He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) magic clubs in both Youngstown (Ring #2) and Akron (Ring # 161), both of which are located in Ohio. He won the Magician of the Year Award fifteen times between the two clubs that he was a member of. His educational column, which was titled “CRAVEN’S HAVEN,” was published in The Linking Ring, the official magazine of IBM, for a period of twenty-one years. At the Maplewood Vocational School in Ravenna, as well as at Akron University, he was a teacher of magic classes.
A detailed book titled “My Almost 50 years in Magic” was also written and published by him. In addition, he authored and published eight sets of lecture notes. The Magic Castle in Hollywood was the location of thirteen of his performances. In order to perform at this place, YOU were required to be INVITED. He received the title of Magician of the Year in 1987, which he received at the Fechter’s Finger Flicking Frolic International Convention ceremony. During the fifty-first FFFF Convention, which took place in May, he was honored as the ONE and ONLY magician who has attended each of the fifty conventions.
Over the course of seven years, he was the proprietor and operator of a magic store in Florida. During that time, he also performed at a number of conventions and trade exhibits. He went on a tour of the United States and Canada, where he gave lectures and demonstrated various techniques. He has had a significant impact on the art of magic that he has chosen to practice as a result of all of his successes. In addition to that, he was a devoted supporter of the Cleveland sports teams, a member of the Ravenna Elks Club for the past 55 years, and a member of the Akron YMCA during his time there.
In addition to his devoted wife Nancy, his sister Rita, his half-sister Mary, and his step-son Rick Laney all passed away before him. The following individuals are among his survivors: his brother, James L. Craven, who resides in Arkansas; his children, Linda (Edward) Manthey, Kathy (Michael) Rhoads, and James E. (Connie Barstow) Craven. Both Ron Laney, the stepson, and Marge Laney, the stepdaughter-in-law both 7 grandkids, 5 step grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and 2 step great grandchildren are all included in this large family.
