Andrew E Yellen

Andrew "Captain Magic" Yellen, age 91 years, of Fernandina Beach, FL, passed away peacefully in his home on March 21, 2020. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. Captain Magic brought joy and wonderment to many through decades of magic and musical performances.

Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, to John J. Yellen, Sr. and Rose (neé Getzy), he graduated from Perth Amboy High in 1946 and Rutgers University in 1950. After receiving his Navy wings at Pensacola in 1951, then completing training as a helicopter pilot, he served actively during the Korean Conflict primarily as a Patrol Plane Commander in Squadron VP-42. Assignments out of Naval Air Station San Diego sent him on missions including Kodiak, Honolulu, Manila, Okinawa and Hong Kong. His service earned him the China Service and National Defense Medals. Honorably discharged out of active duty in 1955, he continued serving in the Naval Reserves until 1956. He remained in San Diego, where he started his civilian life as an agent with the New York Life Insurance Co. Earning an impressive spot in the “Million Dollar Roundtable” in his first year, he achieved certification as a Chartered Life Underwriter in 1967.

Ever a Pisces and avid sailor, Andrew started sailing recreationally in San Diego and continued his love affair with sailboats, especially old wooden ones, after relocating his family to Miami Beach, FL. Upon retiring from the New York Life after 23 years, he and his children moved aboard a classic schooner in 1976. He eventually earned his USCG Captain’s License. In addition, over the years he obtained his commercial pilot’s license, earned his PADI open dive certification, and Ham Radio license.

Among his many lifetime affiliations, Andrew was a lifetime member of Mensa (organizing member of the San Diego chapter) and later, Intertel; associate member of the Seven Seas Cruising Association; lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW; member of the American Federation of Musicians (Locals 655 & 444), The International Brotherhood of Magicians and accepted into the exclusive Psychic Entertainers Association in 1999. He was fluent in Spanish, mastered calligraphy, enjoyed photography and cooking.

To describe Andrew as an iconoclast and renaissance man is almost an understatement. Besides sailing, he was an avid musician almost from the start. Starting clarinet lessons at the age of 13, with his beloved teacher and mentor, Phil Russo, he became a consummate instrumentalist, primarily as a jazz saxophonist. While in Miami, he began a second career as a musician on cruise ships and the local South Florida music scene. He extended his resume as an entertainer when he turned his childhood love of magic into a professional show, best known for amazing audiences everywhere; performing a telepathy act, first with his youngest son (and arguably best friend), John and eventually with his second wife, Ruthellen. Thus “Captain Magic” became his moniker.

His other passions were writing and most importantly, his study of philosophy and theology in his quest for spiritual understanding. In this journey, he found his spiritual home with the Self-Realization Fellowship and was initiated as a student of its founder, Paramahansa Yogananda in 1968. He remained a life-long “seeker” and yogi aspirant. It was perhaps this passionate striving for spiritual understanding that most attracted the person who was to become his life companion for the second half of his life. He met his partner and eventual second wife, Ruthellen, while at anchor in Nassau, Bahamas in 1983. That was the beginning of their 37-year journey together.

This meeting ultimately led to unexpected changes in the places he called home.

Attempts to join her in Washington, D.C. in 1984, instead found them both living in Fernandina Beach, FL for over ten years. There they really honed their music and magic performing duo, The Happy Medium. With the ultimate goal of living in the tropics, the couple had a sojourn in Key West from 1995-2000. After the sailing adventure of his lifetime along with his first mate, they sailed from the Keys, aboard his third and final 30’ sailboat, arriving at their new home on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands in 2001. He had achieved his ultimate goal of retiring in the tropics and they quickly made their mark as that magical duo. After a stroke in 2005 from which he never fully recovered, his saxophone-playing days ended. But ever upbeat and optimistic, he continued to pursue his favorite things, making music one-handed on keyboard and harmonica. Given the disability and advancing age, in 2009 the couple made the decision to return to the warm and friendly community of Fernandina Beach to be closer to family, his ultimate final home in this life.

Andrew is survived by his wife, Ruthellen Mulberg and his devoted children, Andrew Yellen, Jr., John Yellen (Patricia), and Libby Hanley; grandchildren Alex Yellen, Matthew and Jessica Yellen, Jeremy and Brett Hanley; great-grandchildren Isaiah and Delilah Yellen; daughter-in-law Carolyn Carlson-Yellen; sister Rome Heyer; nephew Rafael Iarusso and nieces Cat Yellen and Amy Yellen Shaw. He was predeceased by his first wife and mother of his children, Donna (neé Hammock), as well as his infant daughter, Anne, son Richard Yellen and brother John J. Yellen, Jr.

Special thanks to the dedicated caregivers who tirelessly assisted with Andrew’s care and needs. Interment will occur at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA. A memorial service will be held in Fernandina Beach, to be announced at a later date.

Presenting: Andrew Ernest Yellen (1929-2020)

(in his own words)

Smile back into my eyes and feel my smile in your heart.

Gratefully realizing that Divine providence has blessed me with intelligence and talent

under the auspices of a nurturing mother and a doting father, I have lived my life in an

endeavor to fulfill that promise and convert that potential through action and

persistence into accomplishment and experience which I humbly, yet eagerly, place on

display as an invitation to attract favorable notice from discriminating individuals with

whom I enjoy sharing my attention and presence.