Ron Aldrich, "Detroit's Gentleman Mind Reader," passed away August 9, 2025 at age 88 in Algonac, Michigan. He was born August 22, 1936 in Detroit to Hiram and Hazel Aldrich. He spent his childhood watching his Welsh grandmother, Lottie, read tea leaves for clients in the parlor of their west side home, and went on to develop a love of magic, learning tricks from library books and entertaining the neighborhood with basement shows at 12 years old.

After completing two years of Army service, Ron graduated from Wayne State University with a liberal arts degree, and went on to work at the Detroit News for several decades in advertising design and layout. But his true passion and profession was magic, and after taking an early retirement he enjoyed a very successful second career as an esteemed magician and mentalist, as well as serving as a teacher and mentor to generations of young Detroit area magicians. Ron was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and was inducted into the Michigan Magic Hall of Fame in 2016.

Ron was also an avid baseball fan, having played as a pitcher on sandlot, amateur, and semi-pro teams for years. He watched the Detroit Tigers faithfully right up until his last days.

Ron's long bachelorhood came to an end in 2015 when he married librarian Tracy Harnish, celebrating with an after-party at Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills. Ron and Tracy enjoyed 26 wonderful years together, and shared many interests including magic, books, antiques, and old movies.

Ron was known for his extraordinary kindness, generosity, love of making new friends, wisdom, mischievous sense of humor, and passion for learning new things. He will be greatly missed by his many, many friends and his loving family.

Ron was the beloved husband of Tracy (nee: Harnish). Dear uncle of Sandy Taylor and great-uncle of Joseph, Brandon, Dustin and Mark. Son-in-law of Kathy Harnish, brother-in-law of Kelly, Jody, and Shawn and Crystal Harnish, and uncle of Colten Harnish. Ron was predeceased by his parents, his sister Patricia Miller, his niece Kristi Miller, and his father-in-law Joseph Harnish. 

Visitation for Ron will be held on Monday, August 18th, from 12:00 p.m. until the time of his Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m., at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Ron and Tracy’s favorite library, the Ira Township Library, 7013 Meldrum Road, Fair Haven, MI 48023. Checks should be made payable to the St. Clair County Library, with "Ira Township branch" noted in the memo line. Library purchases made with donations will include children's magic books with memorial plates for Ron affixed.