Sue K. Young
By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff
Sue K. Young, wife of former Chancellor Charles E. Young, died
of breast cancer at her home Friday. She was 69.
Young served as first lady of UCLA during her husband’s 29-year
tenure, from 1969 to 1997.
In 1987, she was appointed Associate of the Chancellor, an
official University of California position inspired by her efforts
to achieve full recognition of the spousal role in academic
leadership.
"The entire UCLA family is saddened by the loss," said current
Chancellor Albert Carnesale.
"This is someone who devoted 29 years of her life to make the
university a better place and to make all American universities
better places," he added.
Since Fall 1999, she served as first lady of the University of
Florida, Gainesville, where her husband is now president.
"While Sue Young was with us, the university benefited from her
grace, kindness, charm and personal interest in our faculty and
students," said University of Florida Provost David Colburn.
During her time at UCLA, Young presented numerous campus events,
displaying a perfectionism that left a lasting effect on those who
knew her.
"She was always a stickler for details," said John Sandbrook,
who served as Charles’ assistant for close to two decades and is
the current assistant vice provost of the College of Letters &
Science.
"The words bravery, dedication and perfectionist all come to
mind," said Sandbrook, who visited Young on Tuesday at her Thousand
Oaks home.
"There was no one who loved UCLA more than she did."
Carol Afshar, who served as Young’s assistant while she and her
husband lived at the Chancellor’s Residence, said Young went to
great measures to entertain guests at their home.
"She was an expert at designing events and making everyone feel
welcome," Afshar said.
Young was born in Colton, Calif., on Jan. 4, 1932. She met
Charles while they were both students at San Bernardino Valley
College. They married in 1950, and celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary last year.
She began her UCLA tenure in 1960, when Charles joined the
administration of then-Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy, whom he
succeeded as chancellor.
During the 1980s, Young brought national attention to the role
of a spouse of a university chancellor or president. This led to
her appointment as the UC’s first associate of the chancellor.
At UCLA, she was an ex-officio board member of the Faculty
Women’s Club and a member of the boards of Women and Philanthropy
at UCLA and the Iris Cantor for Breast Imaging.
Young had been battling breast cancer for many years. According
to Sandbrook, she nearly died in 1997 during the week Charles
retired as chancellor.
"I’m happy that Chuck was able to enjoy four years of his
retirement after UCLA with her," he said.
She returned to school in her 40s, after taking time off to
raise a family, and graduated magna cum laude in 1977 with a degree
in political science.
Young was past chairman of the Partners Committee of the
Association of American Universities and former chair of the
Council of President’s/Chancellor’s Spouses of the National
Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.
The UCLA Alumni Association presented her with a Special
University Service Award in 1985. She was honored again by the
association in 1988 with a Distinguished Achievement Award, given
to the Youngs in recognition of their 20th anniversary at UCLA.
Young served three years on the Los Angeles City Civil Service
Commission from 1974 to 1977.
She also wrote the "New Comprehensive American Rhyming
Dictionary" and the "Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary for
Children."
She is survived by her husband and two children, Charles Young,
Jr. and Elizabeth Young-Apstein, and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory
of Sue be made to the Sue K. Young Scholarship Fund. Donations
should be sent to the UCLA Foundation, c/o Rhea Turteltaub, 10920
Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.