Sherry Dale Ziegenbalg

Born September 3, 1944, in Abilene, TX, Sherry was the oldest of Leonard and Ruby Bauer’s four children. The family soon moved to NJ, and Sherry graduated from Abraham Clark High School in Roselle. There, she met Lee, who would become her husband of 39 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in math education from Douglass College in New Brunswick, working briefly as an insurance actuary before earning a master’s at Montclair State University and later a doctorate in math education from Rutgers University. “Dr. Z,” as she was known by countless students, taught geometry, trigonometry, calculus and computer science at high schools in Berkeley Heights, Springfield and Chatham. In between two teaching careers, she worked as a computer training manager for Digital Equipment Corporation (now HP). She was an avid supporter of her daughters’ educations and volunteered with their Girl Scout troops. She and Lee lived in Union and Madison, before enjoying a brief retirement together in Lake George, NY, and Greenacres, FL. After Lee passed away in 2007, Sherry spent many years with her mother Ruby in Florida, where they enjoyed playing cards, collaborating on crossword puzzles, and hosting friends and family. In 2019, as her Alzheimer’s Disease progressed, she moved to North Carolina to be closer to family.

Sherry is survived by two daughters: Dawn Martin and her husband Stephen of Greensboro, NC, and Robin Puttock and her husband Mark of Arlington, VA; four grandchildren, Lauren and Audrey Puttock and Evan and Elizabeth “Elly” Martin; her sister, Janine Bauer of Spring Lake Heights, NJ; two brothers, Bruce Bauer and his wife Frances of Rahway, NJ, and Jamie Bauer of Greenacres, FL; her sister-in-law, Joyce Venezia of Hoover, AL; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA. Burial will be held later in the new year at Arlington National Cemetery, which is the final resting place of her husband, LTC Lee Ziegenbalg, US Army Reserve (Ret.).

The family wishes to thank Dr. Michele Haber, Dr. Zachary Smith, and the teams at Heritage Greens and AuthoraCare, who provided extraordinary and compassionate care. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Associate Appreciation Fund at Heritage Greens, 801 Meadowood Street, Greensboro, NC 27409.