June Horowitz

A magician, math teacher, community activist, temple historian, musician, and TV actor, June Horowitz was truly a jack of all trades.

Born in 1913 in Chicago to Abe and Lena Warsaw, June grew up surrounded by magic. A businessman by day, June’s father practiced and performed magic on the side. Warsaw taught his children the art of magic from a very young age. Starting at six years old, June performed magic for money, saving up what she made from her performances to later attend college at the University of Michigan.

In her time at the university, June pursued a math degree, something uncommon for women at the time. “Tricks were played on [her]” during her course of study, including a fellow student leaving a “little snake” in her desk as a present. Despite these roadblocks, June pursued teaching math as a career. After she graduated with her mathematics degree, June began teaching in Detroit-area schools. It was in Detroit where she met her husband, Sam. After several years of marriage, the pair moved together to Grand Rapids.

June taught all around the Grand Rapids area. She was “a substitute at most of the high schools and Junior College” (now Grand Rapids Community College). She also taught at the Marywood Academy, a Christian girl’s school in Grand Rapids. She encouraged her pupils to study and pursue math, which was not easy as a woman at the time.

June did not give up magic once she had established a career as a math teacher. She was highly active in the local, national, and even international magic scene. There were very few women in magic in her early days as a magician, but that would not stop her. June maneuvered her way into “men’s” magic events, with a tag that read “I’m no lady, I’m a magician!” 

Later on in her magic career, she hosted a show on Grand Rapids’ Channel 8 called Queen of the Magic Elves, where she dressed up as an elf and performed magic. She also joined several magician’s associations. Her father was president of a local magician’s organization for 25 years. June would follow in his footsteps. In 1974, she became the first female president of the local International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) chapter, IBM 211. In 1987, she became the first female president of the entire International Brotherhood of Magicians. At that time, there were “no other women involved at all” in the organization, but she stepped in because “nobody else would do it.” In her tenure as president, she traveled across oceans to Australia and Europe to expand the IBM’s reach. June’s love of magic and willingness to step up to the plate helped the IBM expand with hundreds more chapters across the world and helped encourage women to pursue magic. 

On top of the international magic community, June was also highly involved in her local community. Diversity and civil rights were important to June. She was active in the Civil Rights Commision, and was a part of Panel of America, a diverse group of people under the Urban League that would hold community discussions in Grand Rapids during the 1950s and 60s.

June’s involvement in the local community also extended to the Grand Rapids Historical Commission, Grand Rapids Historical Society, as well as the Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan, which she received a service award from in 1996. 

In addition to her memberships in several organizations, June was also quite active at Temple Emanuel in Grand Rapids. Her mother, Lena Warsaw, was the Temple historian for decades, before turning over the post to June in 1950. June, following in her mother’s footsteps, held the post from 1950 to 1997, a total of 47 years. During this time, she also served as the Sisterhood President for the Temple and served on the state and national board as well.

In her lifetime, June Horowitz dedicated her talents and energy both to personal interests and community betterment. She created a life of remarkable significance, leaving a lasting impact on both local and international stages.

Sources

“June Horowitz.” Grand Rapids Press, July 6th, 2018. https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/grandrapids/name/june-horowitz-obituary?id=10670795 

O’Connor, Madison. “Magician June Horowitz, 104, blazed a trail for women.” Grand Rapids Press, July 19, 2018. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2018/07/magician_june_horowitz_memoria.html. 

This biography is adapted from an oral history interview with June Horowitz. To learn more about our oral histories, click here.