George W. Young, Jr, 58, of East Walpole died Aug. 19, 2009 in Caritas Norwood Hospital following a brief illness. Born in Boston, Mr. Young was the son of the late George W. (Sr.) and Muriel Young.
He graduated in 1968 from Walpole High School where he was an outstanding athlete in both basketball and track and field. Mr. Young went on to attend Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he continued his athletic career on the Bates indoor and outdoor track teams, graduating with his B.A. degree in Biology in 1973.
Mr. Young later earned a Master of Education degree in Health in 1979 and a Master of Public Administration degree in Human Services in 2004, both from Bridgewater State College. In addition, he held Massachusetts certifications as a Certified Health Officer and as a Registered Sanitarian.
Mr. Young began a long and successful career in public health starting in 1979 as chief inspector with the Framingham Board of Health. In 1984, he was appointed the Health Administrator for Walpole where he served until 1988. He then went on to become the Health Administrator in Foxboro where he stayed until his retirement in October 2008 after 29 years of public service.
During his career Mr. Young received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to the areas of public and environmental health. These included the Robert Perriello Award in 1994 from the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (MEHA) for Sanitarian of the Year; the Dr. Joseph Goldfarb Award in 1998 for Lifetime Achievement, also from MEHA; two Certificates of Merit (1991, 1999) from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA); and the Dr. Leon Bradley Award in 2005 from NEHA which recognizes a New Englander who has made valuable contributions to environmental health.
Throughout his career, Mr. Young gave much of his own time to serving on various boards and committees. He was a member of the Citizens Legislative Committee (1997), the Southeast Regional Advisory Council (1987-92), the Executive Board of Directors of the American Lung Association of Norfolk County (1988-94) and the Executive Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (1987-2008), serving as its President from 1990 to 1992. He also found the time to run six regional environmental health conferences during his illustrious career. Mr. Young’s professional affiliations also included the Massachusetts Municipal Manager’s Association, the Conservation Law Foundation and the Massachusetts Public Health Association. During his career, he was well respected by his coworkers and professional colleagues for his dedication, leadership and friendship.
In his spare time, Mr. Young enjoyed golf and music, and was well regarded as an accomplished guitarist. Most of all he loved summer boating on Buzzard’s Bay where he shared his passion for fishing with family and friends.
Mr. Young is survived by, his brother Jonathan Young and his wife Nancy of Gray, Maine and by his beloved nieces Kristen Young of South Hero, Vermont and Laurie Young of Seattle, Washington. His memorial service will be held on Saturday October 3 in Grace Episcopal Church , Norwood at 2:00p.m..
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bates Fund Named Scholars Program, in memory of George Young, Jr, Class of 1973, c/o Bates College, 2 Andrews Rd., Lewiston, Maine 04240.