Muriel Anne Cornell, Phd

Muriel Anne Shapiro Lash Cornell, PhD, a retired Professor of English and Linguistics, of Crosspointe Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and formerly of Sea Spray on Ocean Avenue, Newport, died Saturday, April 7, 2012 at home from the ravages of Alzheimers disease, surrounded by many of her loving family members.Born in Brooklyn, NY on January 9, 1928, she was the daughter of the late David and Gertrude Roodberg Shapiro of Brooklyn, NY and Fall River, MA. Muriel graduated from BMC Durfee High School in Fall River in 1945. She continued her studies at New York University, where, in 1948, she earned her BA degree in English. Married to the late Donald Lash in 1950, Muriel was a wonderful homemaker and mother for several years, until her lifelong love of education overcame her once again. She took a position as Instructor and then Professor of English at Rhode Island College, while acquiring first, her MA degree in English from the University of Rhode Island, and then proudly, her PhD in English and Linguistics from the University of Connecticut. In 1971, having been divorced for a few years, she married the love of her life, the handsome and accomplished Captain Alexander H. Cornell, USN, and made her home at Seaspray on Ocean Avenue in Newport, RI. Muriel authored many books and articles on Linguistics, and served in a number of administrative positions, including the Assistant Chair of the English Department, at Rhode Island College. She was a Chaucer scholar and a brilliant linguist, who could actually both speak and read Middle English. Always a popular professor at Rhode Island College for her twenty-three year tenure, she retired in 1986 with the title, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, and she and her husband moved to Palm Beach Gardens in Florida. They traveled all over the world and enjoyed a full and happy life together for 41 years. She leaves two daughters, Dr. Laurie Lash, who resides in Australia, and Cathy Robertson Del Nero and her husband, Paul, of Middletown, RI; three grandchildren: Marcie Lash, Caroline Robertson and Ivan Robertson; three doting stepchildren and spouses: Thomas Cornell and wife, Pat, Christopher Cornell and wife, Lynn, and Alexandra Pisaturo and husband, John; six step-grandchildren and seven step-great grandchildren. She leaves also her niece, Jill Romanelli; her brother-in-law, Fred Bucci; and her constant and loving caregiver and pseudo-granddaughter, Mertha Briseus or B. Muriel was predeceased by both her sister Enid Rocklin Bucci and her niece, Carol Rocklin Kay. Her burial will be private, with a memorial service held at a later date. Please contact cathylash@cox.net for details and to be put on a list for invitation.