I first met Tim when I was introduced to Ced Conover’s family, making a visit as Richard’s new girlfriend to their home in Alexandria. I was living in Phoenix at the time, and the year was 1970. Though I had short, very short dark brown hair, I decided to surprise Rich by wearing a long blonde wig (ala Mary of Peter, Paul and Mary.) Meeting me at the airport, Rich fell to the floor laughing when I got off the plane (not quite the reaction I was looking for.) When we got to Ced’s house, the kids were there, and Tim and Mike seemed quite impressed with my beautiful hair. In the morning, when I arrived in the kitchen for breakfast without my wig, both boys wondered aloud where the lady was who came last night.
Tim actually launched his magic career, or at least his early training, while sharing a Christmas with us at our farm in upstate New York. He was a young teenager. Several of the gifts he received were “props” for the beginning magician. On the drive home to Alexandria, with Mike driving, he practiced with his disappearing wand. Mike would drive up next to a family station wagon, Tim would get the attention of the kids in the back seat, and entertain them with his magic wand. The young audience members could be seen trying to tell their parents about what they had just witnessed, as Mike surged on to the next family car for another performance with a fresh audience.
We understood that Tim wore out many a girlfriend, who, though initially fascinated with his magic, in time found that watching him practice for hours at a time in front of a mirror really wasn’t that exciting. Practice makes perfect!!
One spring we visited Ced’s family for the Easter break. The neighborhood was holding an Easter egg hunt, and all the adults pitched in to hide each child’s eggs in the local park. I jokingly told Tim that an eagle had swooped down and taken all his eggs. I assumed he knew I was joking until much later, when I saw him sitting under a tree. He said he wasn’t joining the hunt, since the eagle had carried off his eggs. It’s only been since discussing this incident with Shari recently that I realize Tim, who was then an early teenager, was most likely pulling one off on me, making me believe he really believed my story. He was awfully good at beating me at my own game!
Tim was always willing to perform for family gatherings. He was in Denver at one point, and put on a masterful close-up performance for my parents and brother. He created a beautiful, artful sense of wonder—except for one family member. When our son Will (now Bill) was a baby, he sat at the table with us to watch a Tim performance. Whereas all of the adults were totally amazed, Will didn’t seem impressed. Tim explained that babies are very accustomed to seeing objects appear and disappear, so his magic didn’t seem at all impressive to Will (always in a land of wonderment!)
I was involved in a professional organization, and part of the planning committee for a conference in Coeur d’Alene. Tim made a stop over in Bozeman to see Ced and Carol. When they picked him up at the airport, he had been entertaining everyone (especially the kids) in the baggage claim area with a small mouse, which ran everywhere, alluding capture. Tim was of course the highlight of the conference, performing as a mentalist, and later his close up magic.
We loved Tim’s rich sense of humor and his ready laugh….always with others, not at them. He loved to entertain, amaze, tickle and surprise. Our family was so fortunate to have him in our lives.
Cathy Conover (aunt)
Richard Conover (uncle)
Bill and Ted Conover (cousins)
Bozeman, Montana