Samuel Stephen Yasgur (January 9, 1942 – June 23, 2016[1]) was an American attorney and Sullivan County, New York official. He was the son of Max Yasgur, who leased land on his 600 acres (2.4 km2) dairy farm in Bethel, New York for the Woodstock Music & Art Festival in August 1969. Yasgur said that his "consultations with his father" played a crucial role in the concert coming to Bethel.[2] He grew up on his father's farm, and was a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Chicago Law School.[2]

Sam Yasgur
Born
Samuel S. Yasgur

(1942-01-09)January 9, 1942
Mamaroneck, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 23, 2016(2016-06-23) (aged 74)
Alma materCornell University
University of Chicago Law School
Occupation(s)Attorney, author
Known forSullivan County Attorney
Son of Woodstock Festival land owner Max Yasgur

Yasgur was a 27-year-old assistant district attorney in Manhattan[2][3] when his father allowed the Woodstock Festival to take place on his land. The concert had just been barred from taking place at the Orange County town of Wallkill, NY.[4] The Woodstock Festival took place from August 15 to 18, 1969.

Yasgur went on to become an attorney at Hall Dickler, and also served as Westchester County Attorney and Sullivan County Attorney.[5]

Yasgur wrote a book about his father, Max B. Yasgur: The Woodstock Festival’s Famous Farmer, which was self-published in August 2009.[6]

Yasgur died in 2016 from bone cancer.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ "Sullivan County's long time attorney, Sam Yasgur, dies". www.midhudsonnews.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Yasgur, Sam. ""About the author," Sam Yasgur website". Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  3. ^ "Farmer With Soul:Max Yasgur". The New York Times. August 17, 1969.
  4. ^ Tiber, Elliot. "How Woodstock Happened" Archived January 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, reprinted from the Times Herald-Record, Woodstock Commemorative Edition (1994)
  5. ^ "Samuel Stephen Yasgur Obituary (2016) New York Times". Legacy.com.
  6. ^ Cohen, Howard (August 15, 2009). "Two books about Woodstock bring readers back to Yasgur's farm". Pop Matters. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  7. ^ Mid-Hudson News Network Freeman Staff (June 24, 2016). "Sam Yasgur, former attorney for Sullivan County and son of Woodstock Festival site owner, dies at 74". Daily Freeman. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Hust, Dan; Stabbert III, Fred (June 28, 2016). "Remembering Sam Yasgur: former county attorney passes away". Sullivan County Democrat. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
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