David Arthur Hussey

aka "David Oliver"

Magician, Mentor & More

April 28th, 1966 ~ June 21, 2024

"The art of a magician is to create wonder.

If we all live with a sense of wonder, our lives will become filled with joy."

- Douglas James Henning.

A lifelong Rockland resident, and 1984 graduate of RHS, David Hussey was active throughout high school in several groups, including the WRPS-TV studio & Radio station, the A.V. dept, cross-country and was very involved in the drama dept. As a sophomore, David approached the Social Studies teacher, and suggested that the school should revive the school newspaper that had been defunct for decades. One month later, "The Veritas" was reborn, with David becoming its first editor.

After high school, David attended the University of Hartford, majoring in English with a minor in Theatre Arts, hoping to become an English teacher. A major performing opportunity came his way, and David decided to leave school behind and pursue his dream of being an entertainer. At the same time, following years of people butchering the pronunciation of his last name, he adopted a new last name, “Oliver,” as his stage name. He used his father's middle name in tribute to him, and thus, “David Oliver” was born.

David had been on stage since the age of six, in plays, musicals, as a ventriloquist, juggler, dancer, comedian and magician. The first magician he ever saw was Bob Magoun (yes, from the Magoun-Biggins Funeral home). Mr. Magoun was a part-time magician, and took David under his wing, nurturing his obsession. Performing magic had taken David around the globe to such places as Las Vegas, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. He has performed in 48 states, entertaining at colleges, for corporations, on cruises, for celebrities, at comedy clubs and even headlining at the famous Hollywood landmark, “The Magic Castle." David contributed as a columnist for years to many popular magician publications. He was a teacher in the industry as well, having helped teach thousands of magicians to become better at their craft, but also to be better people in life.

In June of 2013, after several years of declining health due to a rare lung disease caused by performing with birds in his show, David Oliver had to stop performing. His lungs were failing, so David was rushed to Mass General and added to the organ transplant list. He suffered three cardiac arrests, in which he died each time, while waiting for his new lungs to come in, but he was revived. On June 28th, 2013, after 6 weeks on life support, David underwent a double-lung transplant surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. These new lungs would keep David alive another 11 years, until failing again. David passed away on June 21, 2024 at Mass General Hospital at the young age of 58.

Visiting hours will be on Monday, July 1, 2024 from 4pm-7pm at Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home, 135 Union Street, Rockland, MA.

A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 9amat Holy Family Church, 403 Union Street, Rockland, MA. A private burial will be held at a later date.