Ed Prendergast had a way of soothing his dental patients’ nerves. He used magic. Literally.
Prendergast, who practiced magic from the time he was a kid, died Sept. 23. He was 90.
He taught his four children, who often helped during his performances, “to marvel at the wonder of things that seem to be everyday but had magic in them,” said his son Alan of Denver.
His basement was loaded with magic-trick paraphernalia, as well as stereo-camera equipment, said longtime friend and magic practitioner Earl Reum of Denver.
“He had two of everything. And if he gave one away, he replaced it so he’d always have two. It was always in his mind to entertain, and he had a great time,” Reum said.
The two attended a 1949 meeting here of the International Society of Magicians.
Prendergast was in his element. But, as in other situations outside his dental practice, “he never told anyone he was a dentist. They would’ve wanted free dental advice,” Reum said.
Prendergast had dozens of tricks, from mentalism to opening a billfold that would explode into flames.
“I can’t tell you how he did (the flame trick), because he never wanted his tricks exposed,” Alan Prendergast said.
Ed Prendergast not only used magic to distract patients, but he’d do magic tricks at the family dinner table.
“He always had a trick in his pocket,” his son said.
Ed Prendergast was reared in Colorado Springs and at 11 got to meet a famous magician, Paul Fox. He showed Fox one of his tricks, Alan Prendergast said, and Fox said, “Not bad, Eddie, but I can teach you a better way to do it.” The two became lifelong friends.
Harry Houdini was his hero, and though he collected Houdini memorabilia, he never had the chance to meet him. Prendergast chose Vel-dini as his magician’s name, using the last four letters of Houdini’s name, which was a common practice. He performed in many area theaters.
He also won many awards for his stereo photography and was often a judge at stereo contests, said Alan Prendergast. The hobby, hugely popular at one time, required special equipment to shoot and 3-D glasses to view.
Edmund Thomas Prendergast was born in Colorado Springs on July 25, 1918.
He graduated from the University of Colorado and earned his dentistry degree at Northwestern University, where he met Yvonne Saliba. They married in June 1944. She died in 2007.
In addition to his son, Prendergast is survived by two other sons: Brian Prendergast of Castle Pines and Dr. Mark Prendergast of Statesville, N.C. His daughter, Gail Valentine, lives in Denver; and he is survived by four grandchildren.
Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com
