Gregor Young

Lieutenant Colonel Gregor T. Young, III, Ret.

1930-2013 PITTSFIELD Lieutenant Colonel Gregor T. Young, III, (Ret.), 82, of Pittsfield, died Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Berkshire Medical Center.

Born in Pittsfield on May 22, 1930, he was the son of the late Gregor and Bertha Horrigan Young and brother of the late Barbara O'Dwyer.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Cecelia Murphy Young and their four children: Gregor and his wife, Laura Young of Johnston, Pa.; Kimberly and her husband, Michael Elliott of Sturbridge, Mass.; Deborah and her husband, Scott Lauritsen of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; and Christopher and his wife, Lisa Young of Lee. His legacy continues with eight grandchildren Gregor, Matthew and Liam Young, Colin and his wife, Nicole Elliott, Cameron Elliott, Mitchell Lauritsen, and Alex and Stephanie Young, and one great grandson James Connors.

Gregor was the kind of man people described as that "one-in-a-million" person who touched the hearts and lives of all. To meet him was to instantly like him; to know him was to love him. His smile and laughter would light up a room and bestow a sense of warmth and welcome. He brought incomparable joy, wit and happiness to all of us. He spent his entire life taking care of his family and friends and even those with whom he shared only an acquaintance. Family was everything to him. He was the best of us, and in us. He epitomized kindness, generosity, love, caring, selflessness, integrity, honor and dedication. He was the template for the concept of "role model" as a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, and an Army officer.

A graduate of Pennsylvania Military College, the Infantry Advance Officer School, and the Command and General Staff College, led him to a meritorious and distinguished active duty Army career. He served in Korea and Vietnam and commanded the respect and admiration from subordinates and superiors alike. Although modest and humble about his exemplary leadership and undaunting commitment to Army values earned him the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on active duty. Among his many medals and commendations were two Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, the Joint Chiefs Commendation, the Korean Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.

After his military career, he owned and operated with his wife, Cecelia, the former Young's Retirement Home at 261 South Street in Pittsfield.

Col. Young served as the past Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 448, past Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15, and a member of the American Legion Post 68. He was a member of the Committee to refurbish the World War I Memorial in Veterans Park and a member of the Committee to refurbish the Civil War Memorial in Park Square. He served as Chairman of the World War II Memorial, Chairman of the Korean War Memorial, Founder of the VFW honor guard and was Pittsfield's "Veteran of the Year" in 2008.

The passing of this amazing, genuinely loving man, with his wonderful sense of humor, leaves the deepest hole in our hearts and tremendous void in our lives. We were so blessed to have him in our lives and our lives will never be the same without him. It is with great love and sadness that we say, "until we meet again, you will be sorely missed and loved every day for the rest of our lives."

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for Col. Young will be Monday, January 28, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. from the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mark's Church, celebrated by the Rev. John Salatino, pastor. Burial with full Military Honors will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Sunday, January 27, 2013 from 2 to 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or the Pittsfield Civil War Memorial Restoration, care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, in his memory. Please visit www.dwyerfuneral.com to leave condolences and remembrances.