It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Henri Abdulovski. We will miss Henri's kindness, friendship, and his ever-present smile.
Our sincere condolences to Henri's family and friends.
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From Gordon Precious:
Our gentle, kind confrere, Henri Abdulovski, died in Etobicoke General Hospital on May 4, 2021. Henri suffered a serious stroke at home just over one week ago, from which he never recovered full consciousness.
Henri was born in Macedonia on April 10, 1942.
In his teens and early twenties, Henri became an outstanding guitarist and member of a band that toured Europe.
Henri moved to Paris, France in his 20s, where he learned his trade as a top coiffeur of women and men – and he also learned the French language.
In 1968 Henri moved to Quebec City, where he was “bitten by the Magic Bug”. In a short time, he was engaged by a Quebec TV station to perform a weekly magic show. His best friend in Quebec was Gary Ouellet, the prominent Canadian lawyer who was world-renowned for his contribution to magic and TV magic shows by great magicians.
Henry met and married his wife in Quebec and they moved to Toronto in 1978. Henri opened a fine women’s and men’s hair salon which became very successful. He had a lovely home built and he and his wife raised two lovely children.
Henri was a long-term member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and was proud to be a member of the Order of Merlin.
Henri loved attending magic conventions all over North America - but his favourite of all was the annual MAWNY at Batavia, N.Y.
Henri was also a good friend of Ken Klosterman, and was more than once a guest of Klosterman at his estates and famous magic collection (Klosterman bought several of Henri’s own magic collection).
Henri was a regular attendee of Toronto’s IBM Ring 17, the Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club and for years sold the lottery tickets for the club during intermission.
Henri’s wife died several years ago but he is survived by his daughter, son and grandson.
Henri had made arrangements for his body to be given to the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Toronto, for medical research.
Henri loved magic to the very end – he practiced old and new effects every day and loved to show them to customers and staff of his local coffee shop, and to his clique of local magician friends.
Henri will be sorrowfully missed by his many friends in magic.
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Thank you Gordon, for sharing this beautiful write-up about Henri's magical life.
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Gordon Precious, Henri Abdulovski, and Joan Caesar Photo courtesy of IBM Ring 17 |
