CFA News

Curtis Cainan passed peacefully at age 70 on July 31, 2024, in Tacoma, Washington with his sisters Cindy Hill and Carla Hanna at his side.

Born in Ontario, Oregon, Curtis moved to Denver where he graduated from high school and learned to juggle. He joined the Ringling Circus Red Unit as a groom for half the 1973 season and all of 1974. With his quick smile and blonde hair, he was positioned at the performance curtain.

Curtis joined the Chapman Family in 1975 performing in the aerial revolving ladder and the family juggling act at the Circus Hall of Fame in Sarasota, Florida. 1976 was in Canada for the Hubert Castle dates and 1977 on Franzen Bros Circus where he became the big top superintendent and performed juggling and a low wire act.

In 1985 he joined Robert ‘Red’ Johnson and Jim Hebert to form Culpepper & Merriweather where he excelled in all areas.

His pet dog Twila led him to make a dog act. He later added goats.

Curtis was a friend to all and shared his gifts of leather tooling and saw playing. He lived in Gold Beach, Oregon for many years where he became a handyman and faithfully attended his church.

His family will have a private service for him at a favorite childhood spot in Missoula, Montana.