| Just received word that our dear friend Gee Gee Engesser passed away this morning at the University Hospital in Tampa. |
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Very sad news!
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31 comments:
Oh Buckles,
That is terrible, terrible news. Gee Gee was one of those "once in a life time" individuals, the likes of which we will never see again. I am thankful I had the honor of knowing this wonderful, unique lady. My sympathies to Bill and his family.
Wade
It was only 47 years ago yet it seems like such a short time,this husky act was brought in on the bigger dates the season of 61 on Clyde Bros circus. I recall my father, upon watching this lady perform, said if she worked cats she would be the female Clyde Beatty no doubt. They had just gotten a new cargo rig built with living quarters in the front and her huskies had the rest. Quite a rig in its day. Some fond memories. Our condolences go out to the William Powell family.
From James C.Hall and family
I would like to add my condolences to Gee Gee's family also.
She used to stop by My Landlady, Mavis Johnson's place a lot when I used to live there. She was a fineLady and a nice person to top it off! Dick Dykes
I am so sorry to hear of GeeGee's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with Bill Powell and family. I have some fond and fun memoriess of the few times I actually met GeeGee and she was always a fun, warm, kind and loving lady. Not to mention how beautiful, smart, and overall fantastic performer and trainer. I only knew her during her elephant years, but oh what a neat lady! God Bless her. Thanks for sharing this sad news with us. Karen Glenn
I remember a time at Circus World in Florida when a lot of show people visited and after the performance a gang of us loaded up into Walt King's new RV Bus and headed for Orlando.
While enroute Barbara King mixed the drinks while Barbara Woodcock and Gee Gee furnished the stories.
After pulling up to the front door of Rosie O'Grady's the ladies exited, drinks still in hand and I must say, many a head turned when those three flashy show broads made their entrance.
I see on the blog that Gee Gee passed away. I met her years ago and always had the utmost respect for her. I know the circus “family tree” is quite extensive…would you let me know to whom she was related? I seem to recall a reference to John or MaryR uth Herriott.
Thanks for your consideration.
J
I must apologize for botching up Cindy Potter's message above.
It's a sad day.
My family and I extend our heartfelt sympathy.
Gee Gee was one in a million and set the highest standard --- she's going to be a tough act to follow, if anybody has the guts to try.
our bigest sympatyhies ,for the Powell family.
she was .and is .a great lady.
sincerely julian / mireille.
Bill, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I missed seeing her this past winter and now I'm really sorry. I know you will miss her as myself and everyone who knew her. WHAT A GAL
B.K. Silverlake
Very sad news, I remember her visit to Circus World, it was like haveing Royality around!
Condolences to the Powel family. It's a real loss.
I am very sorry to hear of Gee Gee's passing. Rise and I have very fond memories of the winters we spent at her place. Our deepest sympathy to Bill Powell and family.
Our deepest sympathy to Bill & the rest of the family.
Gee Gee will forever live in our hearts, as a friend, and in our memories, as one the greatest performers of all times.
Bill, Trudy, Joanne, & Pee Wee
I will miss you GeeGee. You were one of my fathers favorite people. He always spoke so highly of you. You were one of his favorites. I know you are with him now having a good laugh and catching up on everything. We will all miss you so much down here.
You were a very special lady and I am so honored that I knew you.
Much Love to your family
Darlene Ava Williams
I am glad to have been in Sarasota when Gee Gee was honored in '07 at the Ringling & in 'O8 on St. Armand's as well as her presentation for the CFA this past Feb. My sympathy to Bill Powell & family. There is no need to throw out the 'mold' because Gee Gee was the original in every way the word can be defined!!!
Gee Gee was a dear friend who was 100% CIRCUS. I enjoyed so many visits and phone calls with her.
My sincere sympathy to her family.
The "eternal circus party" up on the big lot just got a whole lot more fun!
Jimmy Cole
Dear Friends of Gee Gee,
Reading your comments gives confirmation that my mom was a special lady who touched a lot of lives. She was unique in every sense.
My mom was 100% grade A Circus thru and thru. She lived and breathed circus for almost 82 years. It was her identity, love and passion.
Thank you
Bill Powell
Dear Buckles & colleagues,
All good things come to an end. As a young man, a "first of May" if you will, I had the distinct honor and privilege of meeting and being befriended by many circus luminaries. Chief among these beams of light and lore was Gee Gee. With it and for it she imparted the magic of our profession to a young man. Not just the glamor of the ring but also the servitude and dedication of caring for the animals which you love, she passed on tremendous wisdom with grace and humor.
Some molds can not be repaired, some molds can not be returned. Such was Gee Gee. One in a million who always gave more than she got.
To Bill and family I grieve with you. Yet in time this shall fade and the wonderful memories, the raunchy stories and that tremendous humor will will play across my memory, reminding me about all which is good and right with circus and how I had the great honor of counting one of its most magical cast members as my friend.
Michael Hackenberger & Family
Yes, Gee Gee was my first cousin. Her father and my mother were brother and sister of a huge family of twelve children. Her father, my Uncle George had a large tented circus in twenties and thirties and had my father as trainer-Eques. Dir. where he met my mother. But Gee Gee over the years has been more like a sister and aunt to me and my family. You can be sure she will be missed. She brightened our lives just like all those that were fortunate to know her. Gee Gee is what you got , one of a kind and you had to like it. She stayed in touch with our Engesser families up in Minnesota and last year she and I went up for a family reunion. It is wonderful that she was recently recognized by Rinling Museum "celebrity " series and St. Armonds "Ring of Fame". She was certainly deserving and I can assure all that she was so very proud. Quite a grand person. Thanks.
Buckles, Sorry to hear of GeeGees passing. M family sends their sympathy to Bill and his family. She was a special person in the way she lived Circus everyday. I met her years ago on a Migley date where we used her elephants to do the leaps with the Cannestrellis in Farmington Mass. Since then she was a true freind who I looked forward to seeing every year when we got to Sarasota. She will always remain in our hearts. Mitch Freddes
Condolences to Gee Gee's family and friends
DanTheBooker
Roger, may I ask a favor? Could you somehow pass the following words on to Buckles Blog on Gee Gee's comments for me? I have a very slow prepaid server connection down here. I can't load the pictures or get to the comments section of the blog. If you
could somehow send it along, I would be grateful. thanks, Pat
***************
I am shocked and saddened to learn of Gee Gee's passing. My deepest condolences to Bill Powell and family. Gee Gee was pure circus; the ultimate performer. I am forever grateful and honored to have known her. She taught me, she encouraged me, she scolded me as no one ever has. I treasure the golden nuggets of wisdom she freely doled out to me, and I have kept them with me- and used them- for decades. I admired her showmanship, her humor, her zest for life, frankly all things Gee Gee, including the introduction of the word "flutterpated" into the English language.
The void left by her passing can never be filled. She was one of a kind. I guess I thought Gee Gee was like the pyramids, a grand, constant, monolithic force that would always be there. Her influence on American circus, friends and family will live on, so in a way I wasn't entirely wrong.
God Bless You, Gee Gee. You will be missed. You touched so many lives, including mine.
Patricia White
**************
I first met Gee Gee and Bill when they were on Howard Suesz with Gee Gee's Alaskans, at Muny Stadium, in Waco, Texas. It was 1965, and Mr. Beatty had just died. Upon introductions, she immediately gave me a hug and told me how she and Billy had honeymooned on the Beatty show. She was so open and friendly, we jackpotted like we had known each other for years. She was the very best of unpretentious showfolks, always welcoming and down-to-earth with ready friendship and a wealth of stories.
We were visiting the Ringling show in 1960, on the train, when Billie Burke said to her, "You know, Gee Gee, of all the girls I ever saw in the ring, you always had that extra something, that extra flash in your style that made you stand out beyond all the others." No one will argue with Billie's assessment. She had in abundance what other circus women aspire to. Of the great ones, Gee Gee is indelible to all of us.
Rest in Peace, dear Star. We miss you sadly, but the Center Ring spotlight now shines more brightly on the Big Lot.
Roger Smith
Our sincerest sympathies to the Powell family. She was an amazing person and an even more amazing performer. I am so glad my mom had video of her Husky act and I was able to transfer it to DVD. The way she came into the ring, the way she sold the hind leg dog on the wire........ ringmaster used to say" You will never see the likes of this again"
SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT GEE GEE'S PASSING. WHAT A GREAT LADY AND WHAT A GREAT LOSS TO EVERYONE IN THE BUSINESS. I'LL NEVER FORGET HOW SWEET GEE GEE WAS TO ME AS A CHILD. KIDS REMEMBER THINGS LIKE THAT ... THEY JUST DO.
TAKE CARE. MY LOVE TO ALL,
VICKIE
I knew Gee Gee ever since 1977 when we toured with the short lived Cirque Gatini. Again we were together at Parc Safari in Hemingforth, Quebec where two of her elephants appeared in the movie Quest For Fire. I also officiated as the "fake" minister for the wedding of Roy Wells (done on the back of elephants). Last year I gave her a copy of Dernier Tour de Piste (a book about the sad and tragic end of Eloise Berchtold). Inside the book was a picture of Gee Gee. We promised to meet in Sarasota but I never got around to making that most important visit. Giovanni Iuliani
As a member of the "Engesser family" in and around St. Peter, MN, we all want to express our deepest sense of loss and our most sincere condolences to Bill and family.
St. Peter has a huge July 4th celebration each year. This year, for the first time, it was given a theme - a circus theme - to honor the circus heritage begun here in St. Peter by Gee Gee's father, George Engesser back about 1925. It was with that Schell Bros. Circus, at age three, that little Gee Gee got her start. From the pictures I've seen and the family accounts I've heard, she was a natural as a performer!
The entire Engesser family was chosen to be the parade's Grand Marshals. We had about 40 "Engessers" participate with the float, most in clown and circus performer costumes. There were another 20 or so "Engessers" watching from the sidelines.
The entire Engesser entourage was lead that day by Gee Gee's Aunt Grace, age 98, who along with her husband, Harold Engesser, had a wild animal sideshow that traveled with Schell Bros.
Our biggest wish for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate this city's circus heritage was to have Gee Gee, her sister, Roxy Luce, and their cousin Johnnie Herriot come back to Minnesota to join Grace at the head of the Engesser family of circus performers. However, for a variety of health reasons, none was able to make the journey.
Our biggest regret for most of us is that Gee Gee was not able to often visit her hometown turf. But, when she did, she lit up every place she visited. Those impressions are indelibly printed in all our memories.
Gee Gee - you will always be the brightest star shining over a proud family with a grand circus heritage.
Tom Roggow
Bill and family,
I was so sorry to hear of Gee Gee's passing. Gee Gee was my first cousin although she seemed more like and Aunt because my Dad was her dad's baby brother, Emmett. It was so great to see and visit with her last summer when she was in Minnesota for the 'Engesser' reunion. She was in great form and as always had wonderful stories to tell. My favorite memory of Gee Gee was when she would bring her Alaskan huskies to New Richland. There was always one very calm one that she let me sit on!! I was only three, but I remember that dog laying down and letting me climb on him or her. I also loved going to the many circus performances and visiting with Gee Gee before and after her performance. She was a great lady!!! Sandi Jessen
Kim Baer just related one of her father's favorite stories. Parley Baer was Ringmaster on a show with Gee Gee and her Alaskans. As they were often wont to do, all the dogs broke out in a major fight. Evidently this one was serious and showfolks came running from all directions. Parley ran up and yelled, "Gee Gee! Gee Gee! What can I do?" Gee Gee gave him a flashy smile, and said, "Oh, hi, Honey. Grab a dog!"
Roger Smith
I've heard this lovely lady's name for many of my 66 years and seen many photos, but I never had the pleasure of meeting her. How very much I missed and how very blessed are you who knew her, called her friend, or are her family.
Just a fan, Paul G.
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