Marilyn (Oshman) Yarnell

LAKEVILLE — Marilyn (Oshman) Yarnell, a lifelong summer resident of Lakeville, passed away at the age of 89 on Oct. 18, 2018. At her bedside, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., were all of her children and grandchildren.

She was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on Feb. 9, 1929, to Louis and Ruth Oshman and was raised in Mount Vernon, N.Y.  She graduated from AB Davis High School in Mount Vernon, received a BA in English literature from New York University and an MA in education from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. She was a 55-year resident of Rye Brook, N.Y.

Her father, Louis Oshman, purchased a 300-acre farm on Lake Wononpakook (Long Pond) in Lakeville in 1917.  He transformed it into Cedars Country Club, bringing electricity into the valley. 

At its height, The Cedars was the largest resort in the state of Connecticut, serving 500 overnight guests. It had an 18-hole golf course, riding stables, boating, eight clay tennis courts and employed 200.  

In the 1950s it was turned into Children’s Colony International Camp. At present, part of the lakefront property is Mary Peters Town Park on Long Pond. 

Marilyn spent 89 summers in Lakeville and her grandsons are the fifth generation to enjoy the area. 

In the summer of 1949, Marilyn met her future husband, Jules E. Yarnell, a New York attorney, while he was a guest at the Cedars. They were married on the lakefront the following year and remained married for 50 years until his passing. 

Her husband, Jules Yarnell, was the world’s pre-eminent authority on recording piracy. 

He was special counsel to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)  and founded their Anti-Piracy Division. 

He represented The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin and many other recording artists. 

Marilyn taught high school English and humanities in Port Chester, White Plains and Tuckahoe, N.Y. She left a lasting impression on hundreds of students she taught through the years. 

She is survived by her children, Marcia Yarnell Dodson of North Palm Beach, Fla., William S. Yarnell of Vail, Ariz., and Ellen Sue Zimmer of Henderson, Nev.; and her grandsons, James Yarnell Dodson of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Steven Yarnell Dodson of Jupiter, Fla., and Daniel Yarnell Dodson of Jupiter; her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Richard Stratton of Lakeville and Chappaqua, N.Y.; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

She was predeceased by a sister, Ethel Schleicher, of Lakeville and Short Hills, N.J.

A decade ago, with her sister Betty, she created a well-received retrospective exhibit on the Cedars Country Club. It was showcased at the Academy Building in Salisbury. 

Her many interests included flower arranging, sewing, party planning, reading, writing poetry, politics, golf, ping pong, gardening and domestic and international travel. 

However nothing was more important to her than spending time with her family.