Robert I. Young

Robert “Bob” Irvin Young, 94, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at Breckenridge Village in Willoughby, Ohio on April 21, enveloped in the love of his family. He is reunited with Virginia “Ginny” Louise Young, his wife of over 69 years, who passed on December 17, 2022.

Bob will be remembered by all who knew him as a loving and caring person who was devoted to family, friends, and Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, where he put in years of worship, community, and volunteer/leadership service. Everyone who knew Bob appreciated his sweetness and humanity. After a successful 40+-year career as a structural engineer, he thrived in retirement at Breckenridge Village, writing poetry and memoirs, and participating in many community activities. Bob shared with all around him his intense intellectual curiosity and “joie de vivre.”

Robert I. Young was born in 1929 in Lewistown, Montana, the fifth of seven siblings. His parents, George Blaine Young and Clara Elizabeth Jenni Young, raised a family in three phases: on a Montana farm, in the nearby small town of Lewistown, and then outside Portland, Oregon.

Bob’s father was self-described as “jack of all trades, master of none” and found good employment at the war-time Portland shipyards. Bob remained a Montana and Western History enthusiast for his whole life. As an eleven-year-old, Bob overcame a case of polio that left him with a weaker left arm.

He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Oregon State College (now University) in 1951 with a degree in Civil Engineering and experience in journalism as the editor of the daily student newspaper.

He worked as a surveyor of public roads in Alaska during one summer of his college years, growing his only beard. After college, he moved east and started work in Louisville, Kentucky and then soon moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he worked for Trygve Hoff and Associates and then Dalton-Dalton-Newport as a project manager and head of the Structural Engineering Department.

His work included the design of bridges, steel mills, dry docks and both office and industrial buildings throughout eastern US, Puerto Rico and Germany. Bob was proud of his work as a structural engineer, helping devise lasting contributions in urban design.

In Cleveland, Bob met Virginia (Ginny) Kenan, who was from Syracuse and Buffalo, New York and had attended Wooster College in Ohio. They were married on June 13, 1953, in Buffalo, settled in Cleveland Heights, and had three children, David, Rick and Kathy. As the children grew, the chief summer activity was travelling and camping (with a pop-up Scamper trailer) in many of the National Parks across the country.

Bob and Ginny encouraged their children to excel in education and the arts, as well as fostering enthusiasm for maps, math, collecting coins and stamps, and memorizing capitals. Bob was a loving father, accompanying the children for scouting trips and “Indian guides” activities. He was never inclined to be a stern disciplinarian. Much later, when Bob was delving into poetry, he wrote rhyming odes to each of his children when they turned fifty.

Bob and Ginny were so proud of their children and five grandchildren. David Young is married to Cynthia Young (a singer and choral conductor) and they have two daughters, Savannah and Gabrielle Young. David is retired from the Department of State Foreign Service and volunteers with the Smithsonian and other organizations around Washington, DC. Rick Young is married to Mary Taylor Young (an author) and they have a daughter, Olivia Young. Rick is a retired teacher and an artist and their home is in Castle Rock, Colorado. Kathy Young Deaville is married to David Deaville (a retired engineer) and they have two sons, Arthur and Peter Deaville. Kathy has worked as an architect and an artist and the family lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Family reunions with the children and grandchildren were a highlight over the years and the family gathered in destinations such as the Finger Lakes of New York; Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia; Lake Dillon, Colorado; and Deep Creek, Maryland. The family came together to celebrate both Bob and Ginny’s 50th wedding anniversary in 2003 and their 60th anniversary in 2013, proud of the example of their loving and nurturing marriage.

The Forest Hills Presbyterian Church was a major focus in the couple’s lives and Bob served there as elder, trustee, and treasurer. Their church social group, the “Hilltoppers”, was a close circle of friends who gathered for square dancing, bridge, poker, and weekend trips. The group endured through the decades and provided fast friends from raising families through their elder years.

Upon retiring, Bob and Ginny remained active volunteers and enjoyed travelling with Elderhostel programs (39 over the years). Bob and Ginny enjoyed retirement first in Cleveland Heights and then after settling at Ohio Living Breckenridge Village in Willoughby, Ohio since 2004.

Bob methodically walked all the streets in Cleveland Heights and Willoughby. They both were very active in volunteering for various events and enjoyed the many concerts, trips and exercise programs offered by the BV community. They were both wii bowling champions! Bob represented Ohio Living residents for board meetings in Columbus and took part in many classes for writing memoirs and poetry, as well as performing with theater comedy skits at the village. For the last 4.5 years Bob was resident at Nason Memory Care, where he maintained his cheerful approach to life to the last.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to The Ohio Living Foundation – Breckenridge or Forest Hills Presbyterian Church. A Celebration of Life – Memorial Service for Bob will be held Saturday July 20 at 10:00am at the Breckenridge Chapel followed by a reception.