Gordon Young

July 14, 1919 – January 3, 2013

Gordon Young, age 93, died peacefully at Aldersly in San Rafael. He was born on Bastille Day 1919 in Chicago, later moving to Seattle. He enlisted in the Army, serving in Europe during World War II, earning the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and leaving the Army at the end of the war as a Captain.

He graduated from UCLA, where he met Gladys Kopitzke, the love of his life, and his wife for 50 years until her death in 1998. Following UCLA, he studied at Thunderbird School of International Mgmt. in Phoenix, AZ. This led him to sales positions in Mexico, then Chile and Brazil before returning to the US.

The family moved to Terra Linda in 1955. The same year, Gordon joined Ross Laboratories, a division of Abbott Labs where he worked until his retirement in 1986.

He served with many community organizations, including as a founder, coach & commissioner of the Terra Linda Junior Baseball program, and on the Terra Linda Recreation Board. He was also a founding member of the Marin Canoe Club. He participated in several Senior Olympics, winning Gold & Silver Medals in canoe and kayak races. He was a member of Peacock Gap Golf Club and later of the Marin Bocce Federation. He was an Elder and Deacon at Christ Presbyterian Church, where he remained a member until his death.

He is survived by his son Robert Young (and daughter-in-law Marie Fox Young) of Pacific Palisades, CA, daughter Sally Heise (and son-in-law Randy Heise) of Bend, OR, and son Thomas Young of Woodacre, CA.

The family will be holding a memorial service in the spring. Donations in Gordon’s memory are requested to Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael.