Obituary: Jayne McAuliff

Jayne McAuliff, 89, of Longboat Key and Lake Geneva, Wis., died April 25.

Born July 2, 1925, Mrs. McAuliff was a professional dancer with the Merriel Abbott Dancers and performed in the Empire Room of the Chicago Palmer House with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, as well as aboard a cruise ship to Rio de Janeiro and then at the Copacabana Hotel in Rio. She appeared in two movies, “Swing Fever” and “Love Thy Neighbor.” 

Her four-year career in dance ended when she met Thomas McAuliff, a handsome midshipman, on a blind date. The couple married in 1943.

Her next career as a loving, graceful wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandma and great-grandma proved to be her greatest accomplishment. 

Mrs. McAuliff is remembered for her legacy of patience, kindness, tolerance and selflessness. She also taught her children to be independent and industrious. 

Mrs. McAuliff was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Thomas McAuliff, who died exactly two years prior. She is survived by her seven children, Thomas McAuliff, Terry McAuliff, Tim McAuliff, Mary Parfitt, Jan Lange, Jill Cummings and Sally Cassidy; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

A service was held April 30. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, michaeljfox.org.