Aldo Colombini Suffers Catastrophic Stroke

[Matthew Field]

From Rachel Wild Colombini, via Alan Watson's Magic New Zealand:

---------------

Message from Rachel Wild Colombini

Dear friends

I am writing to let you know that the love of my life, my beloved husband, best friend and partner Aldo has suffered a catastrophic stroke. Sunday afternoon paramedics rushed him to Munro Regional Hospital in Ocala. Today they performed another CAT Scan and I am saddened to say that the news is not good. Aldo is completely paralyzed on his right side. He cannot speak and the doctors say there is nothing else that can be done. Aldo loved life and does not want to be on life support. I am heartbroken by the fact that I must now take him off life-support and move him to Hospice Care. Short of a miracle, the doctors say he has less than two weeks. Please pray for him.

Aldo is a Magical Comedian and that is how he would want to be remembered. I get strength from knowing that Aldo and I have made so many loving friends throughout the world. We had a marvelous life together traveling the world performing and lecturing to thousands of people in dozens of countries.

Please correspond with me via my Facebook page, as I am not up to taking phone calls right now. I hope you all understand.

Aldo and I love you all so very much. I will keep you all informed.

Love,

Rachel Wild Colombini

[Q. Kumber]

So sorry to hear this.

I was looking forward to seeing him again at the Blackpool convention next week where he was to lecture and MC the Saturday Gala Show.

My thoughts are with Rachel and Aldo.

[Doomo]

Rachel... I do not know what I can say... I can only hope ... Well, that is all... Hope... It is not much I know... But I always loved you two... This is so awful...

[erdnasephile]

So sorry to hear this, as they have been through so much.

Will be praying.

[luigimar]

Praying for him... and her...

[Charles Spector]

Really sad news.

[Jon Racherbaumer]

I expect there will be a tsunami of outpourings to lament what has just occurred. Just yesterday I randomly pulled out a DVD to watch. It happened to be Aldo and I watched with delight, remembering how joyous he was in life and when he performed. He radiated glee, punctuated by whiffs of mischief and it was enlivening to watch the video. Even now, my memories of him seem so alive! In this regard, perhaps this is how we continue on when we are shocked by all the “fallen” who have shared parts of our life and have enlivened us along the way. Perhaps too there is some consolation and comfort to believe that a person doesn't completely pass away until everyone who remembers him or her also passes away? Onward, Aldo. onward...Maybe there is another miracle in the offering? I send all possible positive energy Rachel’s way…she too has been an essential part of the “magic” that was their union.

[brianarudolph]

Quite devastated to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with Aldo & Rachel too.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Aldo several times over the years and seeing him work. So much sincere joy in himself that he always generously shared with everyone.

[Dustin Stinett]

Sad news; Aldo and Rachel are in my thoughts. I enjoyed Aldo's goofy one-liners that punctuated his terrific magic. I called him "Aldo Orben," but I always meant it in a good way. Thanks Aldo; I'll never forget you ... no matter how hard I try.

[Richard Kaufman]

Video interview from their Farewell Tour in 2011:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSxEmju8x2M

[IrishMagicNews]

As if the last few years have not been tough enough on Rachel and Aldo.

Last year, at a convention in Belfast, Northern Ireland both Aldo and Rachel were so full of love life and spirit. It was pretty infectious.

How very very sad that this should happen now. Sometimes you feel as is life is a bastard. This is one of those times.

I am so so very sorry this is happening to a genuinely lovely couple.

Sending love and thoughts to both of you from your many friends in Ireland.

Brendan

[Andres Reynoso]

Very sad news.

I met Aldo in 2002 during a convention in Mexico City. Great show and lecture. Was a delight to watch him perform. Recently I discovered I have a videotape of him in that convention. I have forgoten that recording and was a pleasure to watch it.

Some years later, maybe 2006. He and Rachel cameback to Mexico but I couldn't attend.

When Rachel had a big disease with her heart and needed a major surgery, a local club organized a benefit show to raise funds for them. Was a really nice show full of tricks created by them. At some moment a phone call was made and we herd on the speakers Aldo, Rachel and Maria Ibañez sending greetings to all of us. Was a great moment.

As Jon Racherbaumer says, maybe Aldo could offer us another miracle.

I'm amateur dancer, one day my teacher told the class that the principal's son was dying with his body organs failing. She guided us into a "meditation in movement" where we must dance starting our movement through an organ. How it feels if I move the arm starting the movement with the liver? and so on. At the end all the class felt a very special energy and a great sense of peace. We dedicated it to him.
I want to send this special energy to Aldo and Rachel at this moments. I hope he recovers

[NYCJoePItt]

I've never met Aldo or Rachel, but I love the magic they put out. I've been reading and watching Aldo's routines for years. I am keeping them both in my thoughts and prayers and hoping for a miracle. Trusting that Aldo can rest peacefully as things progress.

[Richard Green]

Not going to mince words, folks...this really sucks...

Reports on another forum are saying that Aldo passed away. I'm searching for confirmation, praying it isn't true, but if true, this just sucks.

[Richard Green]

Just heard that Aldo is still with us...

[J-Mac]

Very sad news. My prayers are with you Also and Rachel.

Jim McGowan

[Paul Gordon]

Funny memory of/with Aldo. I was lecturing at Tannen's Jubilee in the 90s on what Aldo told me was the Saturday. On the Friday, Aldo myself and others decided a crate of wine needed to be attended to. After much quaffing, Tony Spina said, "You do know you're on in 2 hours, don't you?" Aldo laughed, I didn't. But, I sobered up bloody quickly; especially with Aldo pouring triple expressos down my throat.

I've had many happy times with Aldo (plus contributing to his books and DVDs) and wish him and Rachel all the best. Xxx

[Q. Kumber]

Funny memory of/with Aldo. I was lecturing at Tannen's Jubilee in the 90s on what Aldo told me was the Saturday. On the Friday, Aldo myself and others decided a crate of wine needed to be attended to. After much quaffing, Tony Spina said, "You do know you're on in 2 hours, don't you?" Aldo laughed, I didn't. But, I sobered up bloody quickly; especially with Aldo pouring triple expressos down my throat.

I've had many happy times with Aldo (plus contributing to his books and DVDs) and wish him and Rachel all the best. Xxx

Paul, never trust another magician to give you the right details about your schedule, especially one with a sense of humour like Aldo.

[M.Lee]

Contary to what is being reported Aldo is Still very much w/ us ( Thank God )
His wife is extremly offended at the reporting of his passing. (Re-check your facts Mate ...Sheesh )

Many have recovered from Stroke, in recent yrs Gazzo ,for one .. while it may take some time , prayer,
and rehab , Aldo needs rest in his attempts to rebound from this .

He and his lovely wife are in my Prayers

Michael Lee

[Richard Kaufman]

Please reread the first paragraph of Rachel's note:

"I am writing to let you know that the love of my life, my beloved husband, best friend and partner Aldo has suffered a catastrophic stroke. Sunday afternoon paramedics rushed him to Munro Regional Hospital in Ocala. Today they performed another CAT Scan and I am saddened to say that the news is not good. Aldo is completely paralyzed on his right side. He cannot speak and the doctors say there is nothing else that can be done. Aldo loved life and does not want to be on life support. I am heartbroken by the fact that I must now take him off life-support and move him to Hospice Care. Short of a miracle, the doctors say he has less than two weeks."

[Michael Close]

It was posted on Rachel's Facebook page today at 1:09 pm that Aldo has died.

I am really going to miss my friend.

Too sad.

[John McDonald]

So sad. Rest peacefully Aldo


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Richard Kaufman]

Indeed, a very sad end for such a robust, generous, and fun-loving guy.

[Paul Gordon]

Dreadful news...

[Dustin Stinett]

Very, very sad. Richard came up with the best word to describe Aldo: Robust. So I suppose that there is some relief for him (and Rachel) that he didn't linger long in the condition he was in after the stroke.

[IrishMagicNews]

Go gentle, gentle giant, go gentle.

[Tom Gilbert]

Very sad, someone who embraced life like Aldo is rare. At least suffering wasn't long.
Rest peacefully my friend.

Tom

[David Kaplan]

Sad news. I learned my first "real" card magic from Aldo's columns in Magigram, when he was still using Fabian as his stage name.

[Leonard Hevia]

This is hurtful news. He was a fun loving man, not unlike Karrel Fox, who had an eye for strong magic that was high on impact and easy on the knuckles. I will treasure my Colombini books and DVDs that much more.

[Magic Newswire]

I am so incredibly sad to learn of this. I had a wonderful time meeting with Aldo at the SAM convention in Atlanta in 2010. We had always had plans to get together to chat about magic for the podcast and I hate that it never happened. Aldo was an amazing performer and a great person.

To quote Tecumseh:
When the legends die, there is no more greatness.

Let us hope that there are those among us who will in some small way step up and preserve his greatness.

I wish that I could offer up more than a few seconds chatting with him.
This is my 2010 SAM podcast where he lectured.
http://bit.ly/AldoColumbini

[Charlie Randall]

... remember the Aldo...

[Ryan Matney]

Just a reminder: Rachel is still taking orders through the website.

Now might be a good time to order something.

Aldo's site is an outstanding source for commercial close-up magic.http://www.wildcolombini.com

There is also a donation page set up here:[/https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/7404/aldo-colombini-s-celebration-of-life?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_share_stream.share&utm_campaign=receipt_t1&og_action=hug&t=3&fb_ref=1904603