RIP Joan Lawton • I will miss you my friend

Tom Frank, Joan Lawton & Dave Ramey at The Magic Castle, Hollywood, California 9-12-2017
Photo Credit: Taylor Wong

In Loving Memory of Joan Lawton

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of  Magic Castle former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Joan Lawton.  Joan passed away on Sunday, April 5th, after an extended battle with a medical condition. The outpouring of love we have seen for Joan from our members over the past 24 hours has been incredible.  Joan visited the Castle often, and was always sharing her fantastic stories from the Castle's history.  Sadly, the current situation means we cannot physically come together to remember Joan at the present time.  However, we will schedule a Celebration of Life for her once we are able to do so. Richard Kaufman and Dustin Stinett have graciously allowed us to share Genii Magazine's obituary for Joan (below) with the members of the AMA. Please pass this message to any other friends and family who shared a fondness for Joan, and please keep Joan's friends and family in your thoughts during this time.

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Besides being a true friend of magic, Joan Lawton will most likely be remembered as the ultimate hostess. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Joan Freiden graduated with her BA in English, Theater, and Journalism in 1961. Not long after that, she relocated to Los Angeles. In 1963, Joan landed a job as a receptionist at The Magic Castle® and she never left the old house on the hill. Second marriages for both, the Castle’s host and manager, Don Lawton, and Joan wed in 1984. When she left the employ of the Castle, she began volunteering on the various committees that make the Academy hum. Professionally, she worked as an event planner, and one of the events she helped organize was the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. Joan worked on the conference in various capacities from its creation to the last one in 2017. In 2010, Joan was elected to Academy of Magical Arts’ Board of Trustees. She served eight years on that body, serving as secretary for most of her tenure, and she was its chairman (she insisted on being called “chairman”) for her last two years before being termed out. Of the many she met and befriended, one of Joan’s favorite people around the Castle was Dai Vernon. She served on the committee that oversaw the Vernon Fund for the AMA, which was started to help magicians in financial need. In 2012, Joan took the initiative to change the fund to an official California nonprofit corporation. Because of her efforts, the Dai Vernon Foundation, Inc. is now a tax-deductible charity. Joan served as the president of its board of directors for several years. She hosted many events that supported the foundation. Though not a golfer, Joanie was always at the AMA golf tournament. And an event originally started by Whit (Pop) Haydn, Joan became the hostess for—and organizer of—the Castle’s annual Soapy Smith night. An incredibly popular event, featuring period costumes, casino games, and an auction that benefits the Dai Vernon Foundation. Joan also had tremendous affection and respect for veterans and active-service men and women in the military. She founded Sealed with a Wish in 2007; a charity dedicated to U.S. soldiers serving abroad, particularly those in war zones. She also served as the hostess for The Magic Castle®’s annual Veterans’ Week, where each of the showrooms feature entertainers who have served the nation. Joan enjoyed many forms of entertainment, particularly musical theater, but her main love was magic and the magicians who performed it. She always opened her home to traveling magicians. In recent years, she hosted weekend seminars by magic luminaries including Roberto Giobbi, R. Paul Wilson, Rene Lavand, and others. Over the years, she hosted countless parties—always well-attended by local magicians—including annual events on the Fourth of July, birthday parties for friends, and even her own birthday. Joanie didn’t need much of an excuse to party. The driving force in her life was to make other people happy. One of her last parties, for her 80th birthday, was so big it needed to be held at a local Italian restaurant, Vitello’s. On February 17, 2019, the restaurant’s private upstairs room was packed to capacity, and so was its stage. On the bill were Max Maven, Bruce Gold, Bill Goodwin, Tom Ogden, Bill Cook, and Phillip Huber and his marionettes. Every one of these performers volunteered their time and talent because of their love of Joanie. Attendees still talk about the grand event to this day. While Joan kept her condition secret—except from a small circle of close friends—her absence from the Castle was noticed by many. The official response from those who knew was that Joanie was recovering and would be back at the Castle soon. Alas, it was not to be. Joan Lawton passed away on April, 5, 2020. She will be missed by her family and countless friends, and it is safe to say that her legacy is secure: she made them all happy. —Dustin Stinett AMA Newsletter Editor (Written for Genii Magazine.)

In Loving Memory of Joan Lawton

In Loving Memory of Joan Lawton

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of  Magic Castle former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Joan Lawton.  Joan passed away on Sunday, April 5th, after an extended battle with a medical condition. The outpouring of love we have seen for Joan from our members over the past 24 hours has been incredible.  Joan visited the Castle often, and was always sharing her fantastic stories from the Castle's history.  Sadly, the current situation means we cannot physically come together to remember Joan at the present time.  However, we will schedule a Celebration of Life for her once we are able to do so. Richard Kaufman and Dustin Stinett have graciously allowed us to share Genii Magazine's obituary for Joan (below) with the members of the AMA. Please pass this message to any other friends and family who shared a fondness for Joan, and please keep Joan's friends and family in your thoughts during this time.

  

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of  Magic Castle former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Joan Lawton.  Joan passed away on Sunday, April 5th, after an extended battle with a medical condition.

The outpouring of love we have seen for Joan from our members over the past 24 hours has been incredible.  Joan visited the Castle often, and was always sharing her fantastic stories from the Castle's history.  Sadly, the current situation means we cannot physically come together to remember Joan at the present time.  However, we will schedule a Celebration of Life for her once we are able to do so.

Richard Kaufman and Dustin Stinett have graciously allowed us to share Genii Magazine's obituary for Joan (below) with the members of the AMA. Please pass this message to any other friends and family who shared a fondness for Joan, and please keep Joan's friends and family in your thoughts during this time.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Besides being a true friend of magic, Joan Lawton will most likely be remembered as the ultimate hostess. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Joan Freiden graduated with her BA in English, Theater, and Journalism in 1961. Not long after that, she relocated to Los Angeles. In 1963, Joan landed a job as a receptionist at The Magic Castle® and she never left the old house on the hill. Second marriages for both, the Castle’s host and manager, Don Lawton, and Joan wed in 1984. When she left the employ of the Castle, she began volunteering on the various committees that make the Academy hum. Professionally, she worked as an event planner, and one of the events she helped organize was the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. Joan worked on the conference in various capacities from its creation to the last one in 2017. In 2010, Joan was elected to Academy of Magical Arts’ Board of Trustees. She served eight years on that body, serving as secretary for most of her tenure, and she was its chairman (she insisted on being called “chairman”) for her last two years before being termed out. Of the many she met and befriended, one of Joan’s favorite people around the Castle was Dai Vernon. She served on the committee that oversaw the Vernon Fund for the AMA, which was started to help magicians in financial need. In 2012, Joan took the initiative to change the fund to an official California nonprofit corporation. Because of her efforts, the Dai Vernon Foundation, Inc. is now a tax-deductible charity. Joan served as the president of its board of directors for several years. She hosted many events that supported the foundation. Though not a golfer, Joanie was always at the AMA golf tournament. And an event originally started by Whit (Pop) Haydn, Joan became the hostess for—and organizer of—the Castle’s annual Soapy Smith night. An incredibly popular event, featuring period costumes, casino games, and an auction that benefits the Dai Vernon Foundation. Joan also had tremendous affection and respect for veterans and active-service men and women in the military. She founded Sealed with a Wish in 2007; a charity dedicated to U.S. soldiers serving abroad, particularly those in war zones. She also served as the hostess for The Magic Castle®’s annual Veterans’ Week, where each of the showrooms feature entertainers who have served the nation. Joan enjoyed many forms of entertainment, particularly musical theater, but her main love was magic and the magicians who performed it. She always opened her home to traveling magicians. In recent years, she hosted weekend seminars by magic luminaries including Roberto Giobbi, R. Paul Wilson, Rene Lavand, and others. Over the years, she hosted countless parties—always well-attended by local magicians—including annual events on the Fourth of July, birthday parties for friends, and even her own birthday. Joanie didn’t need much of an excuse to party. The driving force in her life was to make other people happy. One of her last parties, for her 80th birthday, was so big it needed to be held at a local Italian restaurant, Vitello’s. On February 17, 2019, the restaurant’s private upstairs room was packed to capacity, and so was its stage. On the bill were Max Maven, Bruce Gold, Bill Goodwin, Tom Ogden, Bill Cook, and Phillip Huber and his marionettes. Every one of these performers volunteered their time and talent because of their love of Joanie. Attendees still talk about the grand event to this day. While Joan kept her condition secret—except from a small circle of close friends—her absence from the Castle was noticed by many. The official response from those who knew was that Joanie was recovering and would be back at the Castle soon. Alas, it was not to be. Joan Lawton passed away on April, 5, 2020. She will be missed by her family and countless friends, and it is safe to say that her legacy is secure: she made them all happy. —Dustin Stinett AMA Newsletter Editor (Written for Genii Magazine.)

Besides being a true friend of magic, Joan Lawton will most likely be remembered as the ultimate hostess.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Joan Freiden graduated with her BA in English, Theater, and Journalism in 1961. Not long after that, she relocated to Los Angeles. In 1963, Joan landed a job as a receptionist at The Magic Castle® and she never left the old house on the hill. Second marriages for both, the Castle’s host and manager, Don Lawton, and Joan wed in 1984. When she left the employ of the Castle, she began volunteering on the various committees that make the Academy hum.

Professionally, she worked as an event planner, and one of the events she helped organize was the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. Joan worked on the conference in various capacities from its creation to the last one in 2017.

In 2010, Joan was elected to Academy of Magical Arts’ Board of Trustees. She served eight years on that body, serving as secretary for most of her tenure, and she was its chairman (she insisted on being called “chairman”) for her last two years before being termed out.

Of the many she met and befriended, one of Joan’s favorite people around the Castle was Dai Vernon. She served on the committee that oversaw the Vernon Fund for the AMA, which was started to help magicians in financial need. In 2012, Joan took the initiative to change the fund to an official California nonprofit corporation. Because of her efforts, the Dai Vernon Foundation, Inc. is now a tax-deductible charity. Joan served as the president of its board of directors for several years.

She hosted many events that supported the foundation. Though not a golfer, Joanie was always at the AMA golf tournament. And an event originally started by Whit (Pop) Haydn, Joan became the hostess for—and organizer of—the Castle’s annual Soapy Smith night. An incredibly popular event, featuring period costumes, casino games, and an auction that benefits the Dai Vernon Foundation.

Joan also had tremendous affection and respect for veterans and active-service men and women in the military. She founded Sealed with a Wish in 2007; a charity dedicated to U.S. soldiers serving abroad, particularly those in war zones. She also served as the hostess for The Magic Castle®’s annual Veterans’ Week, where each of the showrooms feature entertainers who have served the nation.

Joan enjoyed many forms of entertainment, particularly musical theater, but her main love was magic and the magicians who performed it. She always opened her home to traveling magicians. In recent years, she hosted weekend seminars by magic luminaries including Roberto Giobbi, R. Paul Wilson, Rene Lavand, and others. Over the years, she hosted countless parties—always well-attended by local magicians—including annual events on the Fourth of July, birthday parties for friends, and even her own birthday. Joanie didn’t need much of an excuse to party. The driving force in her life was to make other people happy.

One of her last parties, for her 80^th birthday, was so big it needed to be held at a local Italian restaurant, Vitello’s. On February 17, 2019, the restaurant’s private upstairs room was packed to capacity, and so was its stage. On the bill were Max Maven, Bruce Gold, Bill Goodwin, Tom Ogden, Bill Cook, and Phillip Huber and his marionettes. Every one of these performers volunteered their time and talent because of their love of Joanie. Attendees still talk about the grand event to this day.

While Joan kept her condition secret—except from a small circle of close friends—her absence from the Castle was noticed by many. The official response from those who knew was that Joanie was recovering and would be back at the Castle soon. Alas, it was not to be. Joan Lawton passed away on April, 5, 2020. She will be missed by her family and countless friends, and it is safe to say that her legacy is secure: she made them all happy.

—Dustin Stinett
AMA Newsletter Editor
(Written for Genii Magazine.)