John Frederick Pooley

Riverside, CA —January 4, 2021   John Pooley would like to let you know that his work here is done. He received his last curtain call, a sort of offer you can’t refuse, for a "Magical" engagement from which he will not be returning. This transformation comes with huge sign-on bonuses including a reunion with family and friends, some of whom he has not seen in a very long time. His new contract takes him to a wonderful place where he will spend his days laying on the beach relaxing, and each evening performing his magic show with his lovely assistant Aurelia.
John Frederick Pooley was born on January 22, 1934 and passed away peacefully at home on January 4, 2021. John was born in Newton N.J. to Lillian (Hutt) Pooley and Dr. Thomas R. Pooley, and had 2 older brothers, Thomas (Shirley) who lives in Fair Oaks, CA and Bill (Gloria, Virginia) who passed in 2011. John’s father Thomas passed when John was 6 months old and Lillian was remarried to Russell Van Etten in 1945 when John was 11. As John was young when his father had passed away, he often mentioned that Russell was a man whom he admired greatly and saw him as a father figure. In 1955 John married the love of his life Aurelia Pires and they were blessed with 64 1/2 years of marriage together. Aurelia preceded him in death by 10 months. John and Aurelia had five sons, Russell and Joseph who preceded them in death, and are survived by three sons John (Bonnie), James (Linda) and Robert (Jean). John was blessed with 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.  
At the age of nine John began what would become a lifelong love of magic (some might say obsession). He shared with his family that he lived a carefree life with summers spent at Budd Lake, on the beach in Cape May, or Maine. He was a bit mischievous getting into more than just a little trouble such as hitting his brother in the head with an axe or once literally blowing himself up; He said he looked ridiculous with no eyebrows. Maybe because of these crazy hijinks he spent his sophomore year of High School at Mount Hermon boarding school in Massachusetts to get his grades and study habits back in order. After graduating from Newton High School in 1951 John attended Bucknell University in Pennsylvania where he obtained his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1956. John and Aurelia performed magic shows together around the college town as a way to make ends meet while he attended college. After graduation they moved to Southern California and eventually settled in Torrance. John worked for several aerospace companies during the "space race" of the 50s and 60s, primarily on the Gemini and Saturn rockets as well as the Polaris missile. During this time he continued to perform magic professionally and held several key positions in magic organizations such as the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) and the Society of American Magicians (SAM). In 1962, John became one of the founding members of the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. Because of a job change in 1964, he moved the family to Riverside and called it home for the remainder of his life. Around this time, he added the boys (John, James, and Robert) into the magic act. A typical schedule around the holidays for the Pooley family was up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday off to perform a morning show of Breakfast with Santa or the Easter Bunny at the May Co. Department store. The family would then have their afternoon and evening shows for organizations like the Lions or Elks Club. The boys were sworn to secrecy as per the magician's code and these weekends definitely taught them what hard work was, but also that it can be fun. Around 1970 John went back to college, first obtaining a degree in telecommunications and later earning his Masters in Education. At this time he started teaching elementary school throughout the Inland Empire. He used his magic skills as learning aids in the classroom to gain the interest of his students and shortly thereafter started teaching these skills to other teachers in an extension course offered through the University of California, Riverside. Around 1980 he began shifting from teaching to his first love magic as a full time occupation. He began to perform hundreds of shows every year all over Southern California; everything from parties to school assemblies and 2 weeks every year at the Magic Castle. At this time he also began John Pooley's World of Magic which in addition to performing, was also a magic studio where he sold professional magic props and effects, and taught students the art of magic. John also passed his passion for magic onto his grandkids. He would help them learn a trick or two for talent shows or class performances. 
This last magical phase of John's life, over 40 years, was his most enjoyable and he continued well into the 21st century even at his senior community until just last February. He would hold classes for the residents to discuss the art of magic and teach them a few tricks that they could do themselves. 
Dad you brought magic to all our lives, you will be truly missed.

Graveside service will be on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 9 O'clock in the morning at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park, Riverside, California.

Arrangements Entrusted To The Care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California. ~ FD1276

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