Joanie Spina 1953-2014

[Don Hendrix]

Just received an email from Magic Magazine. Apparently Joanie passed away today. Not unexpected but still a great loss.

[Richard Kaufman]

A pity.

[Bill Mullins]

What was her illness? I've seen pictures of her with oxygen tubes, but never knew why.

[Richard Kaufman]

She had cancer, and I believe needed new lungs and a liver.

[erdnasephile]

In an interview with Scott Wells, Joanie stated that she had Stage IV lymphoma (which she apparently beat), but ended up with pulmonary fibrosis (a particularly heinous disease). Somewhere along the way, she also contracted hepatitis which caused her liver to fail. Ref: http://themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwel ... anie-spina

That said, this is how I'm going to remember her:




RIP, Ms. Spina.

[Leonard Hevia]

The way I've always remembered Joanie was at a Copperfield show at the Warner theater around the winter of 1985. Along with several other dancers, she did pirouettes down into one of the walking aisles between the seats as part of an illusion presentation. I could not take my eyes off of her.

RIP Joanie.

[John McDonald]

Really sad rest in peace

[Barefoot Boy]

I am so sad. She was one of the sweetest people in magic. RIP Joanie.

[Rick Ruhl]

Miss her

[Dustin Stinett]

So sad. She was a wonderful and very talented lady. We met only a handful of times socially—conventions and the AMA Awards—which this last one was the last time I saw her. We had a lovely chat and she was very upbeat.

Though we were merely acquaintances socially, professionally she was very helpful to my work for Genii and I consulted with and interviewed her several times. She was a HUGE help on my article on Mark Kalin & Jinger.

Like most, I was hoping for that miracle.

My sincere condolences to her family, many friends, and to the countless performers who benefited from her talents.

Dustin

[Doug Thornton]

Sad indeed. She is a great loss to us and to those who will not have the opportunity of her mentoring.
Those of us who saw her talk and mentoring at MAGIC Live were privileged to witness her brilliance.
And we mustn't let David Oliver's original post get lost so I am placing the link to his thread here:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45094

[Dustin Stinett]

The LA Times obituary ...

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries ... story.html

[Magic Newswire]

I was saddened to lean of this great loss. It was a unique pleasure to know Joanie even though we only spoke by phone. On numerous occasions, she and I discussed the possibility of an ongoing series of conversations in which she hoped to help magicians improve their presentations. Sadly, it never came to be. Hopefully, in this chat from 2010, you will find something to inspire you to be a better magician because of her.

Listen here:
http://bit.ly/1uPSDvT

[NCMarsh]

An extraordinary woman. Rest peacefully, Joanie.

[jonathan.blair.3152]

Very sad to hear