High-flying circus performer Jenny Wallenda passed away Saturday, April 4,2015. The child of circus performer Karl Wallenda patriarch of the circus group known as The Great Wallenda's high wire walkers. Born in Germany she too was a high wire walker and also performed bareback when a child. She was inducted into the Ring of Fame in 2008. She was married in Managua, Nicaragua to Richard Faughnan who died in 1962 while performing the seven man pyrmiard.
Jenny Ella Wallenda, 87, died at her Sarasota home Friday evening following a battle with cancer. She was born in Germany on Oct. 8, 1927, the daughter of high-wire performer Karl Wallenda and his first wife, Martha Schepp Wallenda.
After Karl Wallenda joined John Ringling's circus in 1928, Martha brought Jenny with her to the States several times as an young child, but she was mostly raised in the home of Martha's parents in Berlin. She was drafted into compulsory service as a Hitler Youth, surviving capture and forced labor when the Soviet Army invaded Berlin in World War II.
In 1947, Jenny flew to the US to re-join Karl in Sarasota, FL. Karl and his second wife, Helen Kreis lived in "the big house" at 1623 Arlington St. Her mother and stepfather, circus veterinarian Doc Henderson, lived next door. Jenny became a regular member of the Wallenda circus troupe, taking her turn in the chair-position of Karl's historic seven-person chair pyramid, as well as taking part in many of the family's' other balancing side acts .
Jenny married Alberto Zoppe, an Italian bareback rider, in 1949 and joined him in his act. Their first son was stillborn, then they had Delilah and Antonio (Tino). Jenny and Alberto divorced in 1954.
In 1956, in Managua, Nicaragua, Jenny married Richard "Dick" Faughnan, a young man who had "run away to join the circus" to join the Wallenda Troupe. Richard died when he fell from the wire in the 1962 seven-pyramid accident in Detroit, as Jenny watched from the platform. Her cousin Dieter Schepp was also killed in the accident, and brother Mario was permanently paralyzed.
Jenny married another aerialist from their Troupe, Andy Anderson in 1964. The two would leave performance arts for the carnival business in the early 1970s. Anderson died in 2007. Jenny and Andy had one daughter, Tammy.
Jenny Wallenda was instrumental in establishing the nonprofit Showfolks of Sarasota, the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armands Circle and the now defunct Sarasota International Circus Parade and Festival.
Survived by sister Carla Wallenda, adopted brother Mario Wallenda (who was born as her first cousin); children Tino Wallenda, Delilah Troffer, Tammy Anderson; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren.
Contributor: Molly Nightingale -
Jenny Ella Wallenda, 87, died at her Sarasota home Friday evening following a battle with cancer. She was born in Germany on Oct. 8, 1927, the daughter of high-wire performer Karl Wallenda and his first wife, Martha Schepp Wallenda.
After Karl Wallenda joined John Ringling's circus in 1928, Martha brought Jenny with her to the States several times as an young child, but she was mostly raised in the home of Martha's parents in Berlin. She was drafted into compulsory service as a Hitler Youth, surviving capture and forced labor when the Soviet Army invaded Berlin in World War II.
In 1947, Jenny flew to the US to re-join Karl in Sarasota, FL. Karl and his second wife, Helen Kreis lived in "the big house" at 1623 Arlington St. Her mother and stepfather, circus veterinarian Doc Henderson, lived next door. Jenny became a regular member of the Wallenda circus troupe, taking her turn in the chair-position of Karl's historic seven-person chair pyramid, as well as taking part in many of the family's' other balancing side acts .
Jenny married Alberto Zoppe, an Italian bareback rider, in 1949 and joined him in his act. Their first son was stillborn, then they had Delilah and Antonio (Tino). Jenny and Alberto divorced in 1954.
In 1956, in Managua, Nicaragua, Jenny married Richard "Dick" Faughnan, a young man who had "run away to join the circus" to join the Wallenda Troupe. Richard died when he fell from the wire in the 1962 seven-pyramid accident in Detroit, as Jenny watched from the platform. Her cousin Dieter Schepp was also killed in the accident, and brother Mario was permanently paralyzed.
Jenny married another aerialist from their Troupe, Andy Anderson in 1964. The two would leave performance arts for the carnival business in the early 1970s. Anderson died in 2007. Jenny and Andy had one daughter, Tammy.
Jenny Wallenda was instrumental in establishing the nonprofit Showfolks of Sarasota, the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armands Circle and the now defunct Sarasota International Circus Parade and Festival.
Survived by sister Carla Wallenda, adopted brother Mario Wallenda (who was born as her first cousin); children Tino Wallenda, Delilah Troffer, Tammy Anderson; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren.
Contributor: Molly Nightingale -
High-flying circus performer Jenny Wallenda passed away Saturday, April 4,2015. The child of circus performer Karl Wallenda patriarch of the circus group known as The Great Wallenda's high wire walkers. Born in Germany she too was a high wire walker and also performed bareback when a child. She was inducted into the Ring of Fame in 2008. She was married in Managua, Nicaragua to Richard Faughnan who died in 1962 while performing the seven man pyrmiard.
Jenny Ella Wallenda, 87, died at her Sarasota home Friday evening following a battle with cancer. She was born in Germany on Oct. 8, 1927, the daughter of high-wire performer Karl Wallenda and his first wife, Martha Schepp Wallenda.
After Karl Wallenda joined John Ringling's circus in 1928, Martha brought Jenny with her to the States several times as an young child, but she was mostly raised in the home of Martha's parents in Berlin. She was drafted into compulsory service as a Hitler Youth, surviving capture and forced labor when the Soviet Army invaded Berlin in World War II.
In 1947, Jenny flew to the US to re-join Karl in Sarasota, FL. Karl and his second wife, Helen Kreis lived in "the big house" at 1623 Arlington St. Her mother and stepfather, circus veterinarian Doc Henderson, lived next door. Jenny became a regular member of the Wallenda circus troupe, taking her turn in the chair-position of Karl's historic seven-person chair pyramid, as well as taking part in many of the family's' other balancing side acts .
Jenny married Alberto Zoppe, an Italian bareback rider, in 1949 and joined him in his act. Their first son was stillborn, then they had Delilah and Antonio (Tino). Jenny and Alberto divorced in 1954.
In 1956, in Managua, Nicaragua, Jenny married Richard "Dick" Faughnan, a young man who had "run away to join the circus" to join the Wallenda Troupe. Richard died when he fell from the wire in the 1962 seven-pyramid accident in Detroit, as Jenny watched from the platform. Her cousin Dieter Schepp was also killed in the accident, and brother Mario was permanently paralyzed.
Jenny married another aerialist from their Troupe, Andy Anderson in 1964. The two would leave performance arts for the carnival business in the early 1970s. Anderson died in 2007. Jenny and Andy had one daughter, Tammy.
Jenny Wallenda was instrumental in establishing the nonprofit Showfolks of Sarasota, the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armands Circle and the now defunct Sarasota International Circus Parade and Festival.
Survived by sister Carla Wallenda, adopted brother Mario Wallenda (who was born as her first cousin); children Tino Wallenda, Delilah Troffer, Tammy Anderson; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren.
Contributor: Molly Nightingale -
Jenny Ella Wallenda, 87, died at her Sarasota home Friday evening following a battle with cancer. She was born in Germany on Oct. 8, 1927, the daughter of high-wire performer Karl Wallenda and his first wife, Martha Schepp Wallenda.
After Karl Wallenda joined John Ringling's circus in 1928, Martha brought Jenny with her to the States several times as an young child, but she was mostly raised in the home of Martha's parents in Berlin. She was drafted into compulsory service as a Hitler Youth, surviving capture and forced labor when the Soviet Army invaded Berlin in World War II.
In 1947, Jenny flew to the US to re-join Karl in Sarasota, FL. Karl and his second wife, Helen Kreis lived in "the big house" at 1623 Arlington St. Her mother and stepfather, circus veterinarian Doc Henderson, lived next door. Jenny became a regular member of the Wallenda circus troupe, taking her turn in the chair-position of Karl's historic seven-person chair pyramid, as well as taking part in many of the family's' other balancing side acts .
Jenny married Alberto Zoppe, an Italian bareback rider, in 1949 and joined him in his act. Their first son was stillborn, then they had Delilah and Antonio (Tino). Jenny and Alberto divorced in 1954.
In 1956, in Managua, Nicaragua, Jenny married Richard "Dick" Faughnan, a young man who had "run away to join the circus" to join the Wallenda Troupe. Richard died when he fell from the wire in the 1962 seven-pyramid accident in Detroit, as Jenny watched from the platform. Her cousin Dieter Schepp was also killed in the accident, and brother Mario was permanently paralyzed.
Jenny married another aerialist from their Troupe, Andy Anderson in 1964. The two would leave performance arts for the carnival business in the early 1970s. Anderson died in 2007. Jenny and Andy had one daughter, Tammy.
Jenny Wallenda was instrumental in establishing the nonprofit Showfolks of Sarasota, the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armands Circle and the now defunct Sarasota International Circus Parade and Festival.
Survived by sister Carla Wallenda, adopted brother Mario Wallenda (who was born as her first cousin); children Tino Wallenda, Delilah Troffer, Tammy Anderson; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren.
Contributor: Molly Nightingale -
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