A Blind 78-Year-Old Magician Finds a New Stage: New York’s Subways

I saw him last November. He was truly amazing, and very sweet person.

What a great article, it truly shows he loves what he does. I would love to meet him and see him perform in person. Would be amazing for him to be on TV so everyone can see his magic tricks. Good article NY times!

Wow! This is truly amazing, thank you New York Times for sharing Olmedini's story. I have never seen him on the trian and learned about him through this article. It is awesome to learn about different people in the world through this post. I hope to see him on television and see him succeed much more in life. God Bless!

Bless you Mr. Renteria, and I hope the NYT Video Team produces a video for the readers - we'd all love to watch him perform!!

Bravo brother.

I saw Olmedini for the first time this past November. I have seen many performers on the subway but never a magician. I loved his style and feats. How wonderful to see him profiled in the NYTimes and to learn more of his story!

What a lovely, joyful man. Very much enjoyed this article and the photograps about the delightful Mr. Renteria. As Mr. Permouth states, like Don Quixote, he gets up every morning and fights his windmill. Hope I can do the same in my life.

What a positive attitude towards life this gentleman has! I often ride the subway and while I have seen many impressive entertainers and musician, I have not had a pleasure to enjoy his magic performance. This is such a nice and warming story.

What a refreshing and inspiring story. I’ve been on those trains. Would love to run into him one day.

Good morning Senor Olmedini - God bless your determination, drive, perseverance, to get up every day and prepare to be out there with us New Yorkers. Your face, smile says it all - you are blessing us with your gifts. I grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and this story has touched me, as my maternal grandfather would recite poems in Spanish to anyone willing to listen. My abuelo's poetry motivated me to write poetry, and for this, I am forever grateful. Que Dios siempre le bendiga en este camino llamado vida (May God always bless you on this path called life).

Oh no, got to move back to NY to see this wonderful guy! What a great story, great person. I wish him a happy life of 120 yrs!

Jaime, thank you for sharing this magical story! Here is proof that a NYC subway sets the stage for unexpected magic.

Touching. Not as in "poor man" but as in "handicap is in the eye of the beholder." He doesn't see, not the world around him and not what others may consider as his visual impairment. The magic continues!

Good story -- it would have been a GREAT story if we could hear him sing the few bars of Ode to Joy.

A very interesting and heartwarming story. I wish him many more years of entertaining subway riders.

There are not enough Olmedini's to keep us inspired with the best in our nature, but enough for us to want to be our best

Beautiful!!

Fabuloso!

Thank you for such an intriguing and gentle story: would love to see this gentleman, though I may need to abandon the SF Bay Area and fly on out to New York (Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan??!) to see this gentleman perform...

I do not live in New York, but stories like this make me love to visit. With so many diverse people crammed into so little space, meeting interesting people is as easy as saying hello.

Why no video on the train?

Señor Olmedini is amazing and inspiring, even more so because he has a disability. Out of respect for him and for others living with similar challenges, please avoid the term "the disabled" and use "people first" terminology: "Olmedini, a remarkable magician who lives in a housing complex with other people who have disabilities" would not only be more respectful but more accurate. Thank you!