Harold Frederick Puff

News Death Notice

PUFF, Harold Frederick went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, December 14, after a brief illness. He was born January 5, 1916 to Edward A. Puff Sr. and Edith (Kottmeyer) in Newport, KY. Harold attended Miami University from 1934 to 1938, earning a B.S. degree in Business. After selling commercial real estate and working as a salesperson, he became a purchasing agent for Western College in Oxford. He was drafted into the Air Force in 1942 during World War II, was stationed in Atlantic City and then transferred to the Delmarva Peninsula near Dover, Delaware, where he became a food specialist inspector. After the war, Harold returned to his former job at Western College. In the summer of 1947 he studied at Columbia University and transferred that fall to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He earned a Master's of Business Administration in 1948. While in Michigan, Harold was paid to sing in the church choir every Sunday, and developed his rich tenor voice by attending an opera workshop and studying voice. In the fall of 1948, Harold was hired to teach in what was then called the Industrial Management Department, beginning a career that would span the next 38 years. He earned the Doctor of Business Administration at Indiana University and was promoted to full professor in 1957. For five years, Harold served as Assistant Chairman of Miami's Department of Management. One year, while teaching at Miami, Harold performed a magic show in the Faculty Follies, where he was introduced to an English instructor named Edith Foth. They were married a few years later on January 31, 1953. The wedding was officiated by Harold's brother, the Rev. Edward Puff, Jr. Harold and Edith raised three children: Janelle "Winnie" lives in Indianapolis with her husband Larry Werbil and two daughters, Arianne and Monica; Meredith and her husband Robert Hofmann live in Oxford with their two sons, Andy and Igor; and their son Fred passed away in 1984. Although losing Fred was the greatest pain of their lives, Harold and Edith brought good out of their sorrow by creating a Miami scholarship in his memory. Harold's life-long hobby of magic tricks began as a boy in 1926 when his aunt took him to see Howard Thurston the magician at the Grand Opera House in Cincinnati. Enchanted, Harold began absorbing everything he could about magic, and performing small shows. Later, his father took them to an evening of magic by local magician George Stock, who befriended Harold. They kept in touch, and Mr. Stock invited him to attend the Cincinnati Magic Club's monthly meetings. In 1937, Harold's senior year at Miami, he joined the Society of American Magicians (SAM) and helped plan the society's national convention. Harold was a member ever since, spanning more than 70 years. Harold was also named "Dean of Cincinnati Magicians" by his peers in 1989. Harold was also a 60+ year member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, singing in the choir and performing solos for many years. When Edith passed away in 2006 after 53 years of marriage, Harold generously donated funds for a handicap ramp/sidewalk to one of the church buildings in her memory. A man of excellence, Harold was always full of generosity and devotion. Over the years, he gave tirelessly to his family, work, the many Miami students and other faculty members he influenced, as well as magician buddies throughout the world. Harold leaves behind many cousins, friends and relatives including his daughters, Janelle and Meredith and their families; niece Prue Dana and her husband Steve of Oxford; niece Laurie and husband Ed Rhodes of Dayton; nephew Bruce Puff of Dayton; niece Beth Kelley and husband Bob of Dayton; nieces Edith Nosow and Fay Nosow of Minneapolis, MN; niece Victoria Sherry and her husband Kurt of Wichita, KS; nephew Neil Foth and his wife Julie of Kansas City, KS; and nephew Bob Nosow and his wife Cindy of North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, son and wife. Visitation will be held from 12-2 p.m. Saturday, December 17, with a memorial service following at 2 p.m. at the Oxford Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at the Oxford Cemetery. The Smith & Ogle Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be made online to www.smithoglefuneralhome.com Memorial contributions are suggested to the Oxford Presbyterian Church.