Isaiah Zagar
My eulogy in images.
In 1996, I visited Philadelphia on my journey circumnavigating the US in my yellow Subaru. I interviewed Isaiah at the site of his now famous Magic Gardens. As you will see in the mini documentary I hastily edited together, he was in the midst of it’s creation.
He and his wife Julia were like second parents to me when I lived on South Street in Philadelphia. I’ve known them since I was six, maybe even younger. Isaiah died on Thursday, February 19, 2026. He was very frail when I was last saw him but the light shining from his sparkly eyes and smile was something to behold.
Here’s a quick 10 minute edit of the footage I shot, a homage of sorts. I laughed a lot cutting it. I cried a lot too. My last exchange with Isaiah a few months ago was so connected and beautiful, we shared several tender moments and somehow I knew it might be the last time I’d see him alive. I am grateful I got to spend time with him, Julia and my dear friend Zeke, their son.
His other son, Jeremiah Zagar, made a beautiful documentary called In a Dream. Here’s the link.
Life is the full catastrophe and art is the center of the real world. I sometimes forget how blessed certain parts of my life have been. Isaiah’s passing has reminded me what it means to embrace each moment. There’s a bit in Jeremiah’s film where Isaiah talks about how he feels everything, including his own shit, literally. He makes no distinction between shit and gold in that moment. I love him for that. I love his madness, his commitment to life and his acceptance of death.
My heart is heavy with his passing and light as a feather knowing his legacy is sound.



Oh Josh. How very moving all this is. And thank you for letting us meet this lovely man. Lucky both of you, to have known and loved each other,
Wow. Thanks for sharing this. He seems like he was such an incredible person.