JOSEPH YOUNG Obituary

JOSEPH WAH CHOW YOUNG, D.D.S. Honorary Mayor of Chinatown 97, passed away at his residence surrounded by his family on February 16, 2023. Joseph was born on August 2, 1925 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The sixth of nine children born to Young Fong and Wong Shee, he grew up in Akepo Lane, Kaimuki and Kuapa Pond, Hawaii Kai. Dr. Young attended St. Patrick's Elementary, Iolani, and St. Louis School. He left school and was drafted into the Army Air Corps, serving as a corporal during WWII. Upon discharge, Joe resumed his education and received his A.B. and D.D.S. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to practicing dentistry, Dr. Young began a career in community service with the City of Honolulu, especially Chinatown. Joe was a former member of the City Planning Commission, Honolulu Fire Commission and the Mayor's Downtown/Chinatown Task Force. He also supported the Chinese communities by serving as president for Kwangtung Community Honolulu Lin Yee Hui, Chung Shan Assoc. of Hawaii, Lung Doo Benevolent Assoc., Sun Ming Ting Benevolent Assoc., Chung Wah Chung Kung Hui, and Luk Tung Kuen. He was a member and director of many more organizations. Dr. Young was awarded the Chinese Model Father of the Year 1998 and Chinese Citizen of the Year 2004. In 2014, Mayor Kirk Caldwell appointed Dr. Young the Honorary Mayor of Chinatown. As a WWII veteran, Joseph received the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American WWII vets in 2022. Dr. Young will be honored on the future Chinatown arch at Kekaulike and King Streets. Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Wah Kei, Kenneth, Harry, Robert and sisters, Millie Ng, Amy Chann and Dolores Chun. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara, his brother, Andrew, his children, Haven Young (Stein) Rafto, Emory (Megin), Collyer K. (Lindy) Young, Shelby Young (Mathew) Goo and grandchildren, Sierra, Savanna, and Sheaffer Rafto; Marina and Madisyn Young; Phoebe and Brenner Young; Connor and Skyler Goo. Services will be held on March 12, 2023 at Borthwick Mortuary's Maunakea and Vineyard Chapels. Visitation will be at 9am, Service at 11am, lunch to follow. Burial at 2pm at Diamond Head Memorial Park. Donations can be made in Joseph's name to his favorite organizations: A Better Chinatown Association 2138 Algaroba St., Honolulu, HI 96826; Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr., St. Louis, MO 63130; Mun Lun School, 1290 Maunakea St., Honolulu, HI 96817; St. Louis School, 3142 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816.