Sharon “Sherry” Louise (Daley) Jung, founder of the Daley Debutantes, was born in 1939 and twirled in President Kennedy’s inauguration parade. She also performed on The Ed Sullivan show. The Milwaukee icon was bestowed with the honorary title of “major” by the National Baton Twirling Association. In 2020, whe passed away at the age of 80.
News Article
If there are baton twirlers in heaven, Sherry Daley Jung is up there marching at the front of the parade, head held high, wearing a green sash and white majorette boots and spinning three, four, five times before deftly catching her twirling baton.
Anyone who has ever watched a parade in Milwaukee in the last six or so decades has seen the Daley Debutantes, a group of baton twirlers founded by Jung when she was just 15.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel (June 4, 2020)
Obituary
Sharon “Sherry” L. Jung
Wauwatosa, WI – Nee Daley Age 80 years. Marched proudly, with her baton held high, into Eternal Life May 27, 2020…
Tribute
It’s with incredible sadness that we share the passing of our founder, Sherry Daley Jung. She passed away this morning due to pancreatic cancer.
In the last few months, Sherry had said, “I have lived an incredible life.” She truly did. As hard as it is for all of us, her faith allowed her to be ready to see her husband Jerry again.
She loved her family, which includes sisters Marcy and Patti; children: Jennie, Bill and Heidi; and grandchildren: Bella, Julia, Jack, Charlie, and Grace.
Founded the Daley Debs at 15
It is really astonishing to look back at her accomplishments, including the fact that she founded the corps when she was 15 years old.
From early childhood through college graduation, Sherry and her sisters were professional entertainers, appearing at conventions, dinners, sports shows, community celebrations, theaters, and supper clubs. They “grew up” on Wisconsin’s first television station as regular staff performers on Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV and also appeared on national television shows such as Ed Sullivan, Laraine Day-Leo Durocher, and Ted Mack.
Junior National Majorette Championship
Sherry won the junior National Majorette championship at St. Paul and six Wisconsin state solo baton championships. She was a finalist for both Miss Majorette of America and Mrs. Majorette of America and was Drum Major Magazine’s Contest Director of the Year in 1968.
A graduate of Marquette University, Sherry was the featured twirler and oboist with the Warrior band. She served for six years as board member and vice-president of the Association of Marquette University Women.
Sherry was a charter member of the NBTA and is now in the association’s Hall of Fame. For many years, Sherry served as a judge at pageants and competitions across the country. Recognizing her leadership and contributions to the community, Milwaukee Magazine named her “One of Milwaukee’s Most Interesting People of 1986”. She truly is a baton twirling legend.
We are so lucky to have known her and will miss her deeply.
The last year has been a blessing for her family. Sherry’s health scare in 2019 brought out such an incredible outpouring of love from corps families and the twirling world, which was highlighted by 2019’s Deb Fest. Sherry loved you all and knew how much you loved her.
God Bless you, Sherry! ☘️💚
Source: Daley Debutantes Baton and Drum Corps
Video Tribute
View more memorials on the Vintage Baton Twirler.
