Aurelia Canestrelli Nock Died at 86
The American circus world lost a matriarch this month. Aurelia Canestrelli Nock grew up as part of Italy’s famous Canestrelli circus family and came to American at the age of 19 to join Ringling Brothers Circus with her family’s unsupported ladder act- where one uncle balanced a tall ladder on his feet as Aurelia and another uncle climbed up to do tricks on it. Growing up in a circus family, Aurelia performed many acts including acrobatics, low wire, aerials, and bareback riding!
Aurelia married Swiss swaypole artist, Eugene Nock and joined her husband’s family act, the Nerveless Nocks! They toured the US and the World and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show with the Beatles. For 45 summers, The Nerveless Nocks performed with the Tommy Bartlett Water, Ski and Sky Show at Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
After retiring, Aurelia served on the executive board of Sarasota’s Circus Ring of Fame, as a committee member for the John and Mable Ringling Circus Celebrity event, and on the induction council for the International Circus Hall of Fame at Peru, Indiana.
Aurelia was married to Eugene Nock for 42 years, until his death in 1999. They had four sons who are all performers, Eugene, John, Michelangelo, and Bello. She had fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Sons, Michelangelo Nock, Bello Nock, and their children, are particularly active in the circus world and are powerfully and purposefully carrying on this multi-generational family business!
This obituary was originally posted on the Americam Circus Alliance FB page.
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