Isaac Bonewits was a Pagan author and educator, as well as the founder of Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF), one of the largest Neopagan Druid groups in existence. Born in 1949 in Michigan to Catholic parents, Isaac got his first exposure to magic in his teens, when he met a woman who practiced Vodoun. According to his biography on his website, he attended UC Berkeley, where he was able to design his own course of study, and graduated with a degree in magic -- the first (and last) person ever to do so!
Over the years, Isaac was involved in a number of different modern occult groups, and founded ADF in the late 1980s. In addition to his writings on magic, Isaac has been active in commenting on social issues of interest to the Neopagan community, such as polyamory, drug addiction, and recovery. One of his most important works is the Advanced Bonewits Cult Danger Evaluation Frame, which should be read by anyone who's considering joining a coven or group.
Isaac was married to Phaedra, his fifth wife, when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in 2010. On August 12, 2010, he passed away in his sleep. Before his death, Isaac announced that all of his scholarly papers would be donated to the University of California, Santa Barbara library and their American Religions Collection.
