John McPeak Obituary

By David Cain

We are very sad to announce the passing of well-known juggler John McPeak. He was a retired public school teacher (32+years) and professional juggler and magician. He lived with his wife Bern in Las Vegas, NV (USA). He learned to juggle 57 years ago and was still performing until two years ago. Juggling was only sometimes his full-time career, but was a life-long passion.

John McPeak was born in 1946 and grew up in western Washington and Oregon. He described himself as an average student and person who had no particular athletic ability, but who did enjoy occasionally performing in plays.

In the Spring of 1967, at the age of 20, he saw his friend Gene Grass and his brother Steve McPeak juggling on the grass in front of their college dorm in Seattle. He was fascinated and taught himself to juggle three clubs without a lesson.

He and Gene taught themselves partner juggling with clubs and performed for fellow students. He dropped out of college that summer and joined the Air Force Reserve. Later, He got a full time job working midnights at the Boeing Company in Renton, Washington. In the summer of 1968, he returned to the University of Washington part time. In June of 1970, he graduated with a history degree and teaching certificate and immediately relocated to Las Vegas where his brother was working with a high wire and unicycle act at Circus Circus.

In Las Vegas, he grew to greatly admire juggling icon Rudy Cardenas, with whom he became friends. Copying Cardenas, John bought some shaker cups from a restaurant supply company and had his brother make a pocket belt.

John McPeak with his pocket belt

John started working as a teacher in Las Vegas, and befriended many of the star jugglers that worked there. He also became friends with Bobby May, whom he visited with after attending the 1972 IJA Convention in Wilmington, Delaware.

He started performing professionally in 1975 and eventually worked throughout Europe, the Middle East, and in Mexico. He also performed in Las Vegas.

Rudy Cardenas and John McPeak

In 1977, John set a Guinness World Record for the longest time juggling, doing three clubs for six hours at Circus Circus in Las Vegas.

John McPeak setting the Guinness World Record for longest time juggling.

John outside of Circus Circus in Las Vegas

John would later set a Guinness world record by being the first juggler to throw and catch 10 shaker cups.

John McPeak with ten shaker cups

In 1978, John worked with his brother to create some of the first shaker cups specifically designed for juggling. He then began touring Europe with the Harlem Globetrotters as part of their half-time show.

During these performing years, John became friends with Michael Chirrick, Dick Franco, Paul Bachman, El Gran Picaso, Karl-Heinz Ziethen, and many other well-known jugglers.

Michael Chirrick, Karl-Heinz Ziethen, and John McPeak

He appeared on various television shows, including the Gong Show and the John Davidson Show.

In the early 1980s, John went back to teaching as his full-time profession, but still juggled professionally on the side, often filling in for jugglers in revue shows when needed and doing other gigs around Las Vegas. He started dabbling in magic and added that skill to his act. He eventually became a sought after birthday party entertainer doing juggling and magic.

John with his son Steven

His wife Bern, a talented balloon sculptor, joined his act in 2009, calling themselves JohnAndBernMagic. They were voted the # 1 Best Kids’ Show in Vegas.

In the past decade, John became close friends with Niels Duinker and enjoyed connecting with jugglers online. He retired from performing two years ago. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

John, Bern, and Niels Duinker