Myrtle Sarin Cornell
Published May 19, 2004
Former Bainbridge Island resident Myrtle Sarin Cornell, age 100, died May 19 in Seattle.
She was born Nov. 3, 1903, in Port Blakely to Johan Herman Sarin and Hilda Sarin, and grew up with three brothers in the Eagledale home built by her father. She rowed her boat across Eagle Harbor to attend high school, swam in Puget Sound near her home, and walked to Port Blakely Presbyterian Church to play the pump organ and teach classes.
She served as a substitute teacher while still a high school student. She began her professional career at age 18 at the McDonald School in Eagledale, and taught for many years on Bainbridge Island, in Aberdeen, and in northeastern California.
She was a member of Kappa Delta Gamma, the honorary society for women educators.
A lifelong student, she attended Western Washington University, the University of Washington and California State University, Chico, where she completed her degree requirements and postgraduate study.
She and her husband, Elmore Cornell, shared a love for the outdoors with children and grandchildren; long weekend hikes, canoeing, swimming and camping were important family activities.
Upon retirement, she returned to Bainbridge Island to live once again in the Eagledale family home. She and her husband enjoyed gardening, trips in their travel trailer to Arizona and scenic West Coast areas, and the visits of family and friends. She was a member of the Bainbridge Island Historical Society.
She is survived by son Charles Cornell, of Walnut Creek, Calif.; granddaughters Clarice Cornell and Kimberly Cornell of Santa Barbara, Calif.; granddaughter Karen Cornell (Albert Treskin), and grandchildren Kaylie and Alexander Treskin of Oakland, Calif.; daughter Jane Cornell of Seattle; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband.
Services will be held at a later date; burial will be at Port Blakely Cemetery.
The family thanked the staff of Crista Senior Community Nursing Center for their care; remembrances may be sent to the center at 19303 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98133-9803.