An Ohio University student who loved art and dancing died early yesterday morning.
Yaara Mashmoor, a junior studying psychology, was pronounced dead early yesterday morning after being taken to O’Bleness Memorial Hospital.
A man identifying himself as Mashmoor’s boyfriend called Athens Police Department at 3:02 a.m. yesterday. He was on the phone with the dispatcher for about four minutes before the call dropped. He called again at 3:07 a.m. and was on the phone for another minute until paramedics arrived at Mashmoor’s house at 146 Grosvenor Street.
According to the 911 calls, the man woke up to find Mashmoor unresponsive and not breathing. After several moments, he told the dispatcher she was coughing and choking.
Mashmoor was taken to O’Bleness and pronounced dead soon after arrival.
She was 21 years old and was from Pepper Pike, Ohio.
Mashmoor was passionate about dancing and drawing, and her outgoing personality was evident even when she was a child, said her friend Abby Helfand, a senior studying hospitality management and pre-law at Kent State University.
“She was friendly and reached out to me, and despite what anyone thought, she did what she thought was right,” Helfand said.
APD is still investigating the death and is not ruling anything out, Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said, adding that he did not suspect foul play.
“We feel at this point there is no threat to public safety,” Pyle said.
The Athens County Coroner’s office performed an autopsy today and has preliminary results, but a cause of death is not available.
“We have nothing yet that we can report,” Athens County Coroner Harold Thompson said. “We’re just waiting for results.”
Mashmoor’s parents were in Athens but did not want to comment.
“I was saddened to learn of Yaara’s passing this morning,” Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi said in a statement. “On behalf of Ohio University, I extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends. I know the fond memories we have of her will help us all through this difficult time.”
There will be a memorial service for Mashmoor at 8 tonight in the Shelter House in the Cleveland Metro Parks.
Mashmoor attended Orange High School with Grace Roulston, an OU senior studying video production.
“Yaara was the most beautiful person, inside and out,” Roulston said. “She was always smiling and laughing, and everyone loved to be around her.”
Adetunji Adedipe, a second-year graduate student studying political science, knew Mashmoor for years and said he was shocked by her death. Adedipe and Mashmoor went to school together in Orange, Ohio, before both attending OU.
“She was like my little sister,” said Adedipe, who had nicknamed Mashmoor “Zha Zha.”
“We were just always close. We had our secret sayings, our inside jokes,” he said. “She was just special to me.”
Adedipe said he had lost touch with Mashmoor for a while and called her yesterday morning to meet up with her for breakfast.
“Everyone should realize life isn’t a promise,” Adedipe said. “It’s too short to be anything but happy.”
— Pat Holmes contributed to this article.
rm279109@ohiou.edu
