Marilyn Schoenbaum died on May 20 at home in her Chevy Chase apartment following a short illness.  She was 98.  Her many friends appreciated Marilyn's zeal for life and her sense of humor. These, together with her realistic yet positive philosophy, made her a source of comfort and support for friends who were going through bad times.

Marilyn was the widow of Sam Schoenbaum, a noted authority on the life and works of William Shakespeare.  She grew up in the Bronx, New York, where her parents owned a small dry goods store.  She met husband in high school in a Shakespeare class, and their first date was to see Paul Robeson in Othello.

Sam's popularity as a lecturer allowed the couple to travel extensively--something Marilyn enjoyed.  They lived in London while he did research for his books and ultimately moved to Washington, D.C., where he was trustee of the Folger Shakespeare Library.  Marilyn also wrote a book concerning Shakespeare, "A Shakespearean Merriment: An Anthology of Shakespearean Humor".

She loved going to movies, a habit that helped foster her ambition to be on the Broadway stage. While taking singing lessons, she worked as a switchboard operator at Decca Records in New York. She enjoyed telling friends about her 1954 audition for Irving Berlin for a part in the show "Miss Liberty."  She passed the first (appearance) round but was eliminated in the second (performance and stage presence) round.  She loved Broadway show tunes and knew the lyrics to many which she enjoyed singing.

She leaves two nephews, Bill and Bob Phillips, two grandnephews, and three great-grandnieces.