Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Another friend gone!


Scan12569, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Donna McMahan stopped by today, she had driven up from Sarasota to our local Hospital to visit Tommy Bentley only to learn that he had passed away last night.
She was told that he would be cremated and his ashes sent to Vermont for interment.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great showman.I only met him once.This In Ocala,Fl perhaps 15 years ago.Bentley Brothers Circus was their under the big top.
Terriffic show!!

Bill Powell said...

I am so sad. What a wonderful man and friend of my family.

My mom loved Tommy Bentley. My dad taught Tommy how to walk the tight wire.

He will be missed dearly.

Bill Powell

Anonymous said...

I am saddened by this news. Bentley Bros Circus was my home for 11 of my 20 circus years. Tommy was my mentor in so many ways it would be hard to list them all.

Bruce the Clown

B.E.Trumble said...

A class act, always.

jerry digney said...

i first met Tommy 40 years ago at a place he had in rural Norco, CA, east of L.A.--i think he was off the road in those days but still a bigger than life character. Later, when I joined Vargas, we reconnected as he had bought a duplex in Hollywood which was like Grand Central Station 24/7. He was a man with a big heart who loved the circus biz and was good to a lot of people. He and Cliff became good friends so I saw a lot of him in those Vargas years and he was always great company; when he visited the Vargas show he loved working the front door, especially the Hollywood Bowl date!--always full of gossip and stories. Rest in peace!

Unknown said...

Dang. He (an Clancy) taught me how to put on make-up for the ring. Bucky must have asked him to take me from frump to glamour....he had a tough row to hoe

Wade G. Burck said...

Jo Dee,
Is this Jody Craigmaire? Bucky was known to be pretty demanding, wasn't he.
Wade Burck